The 

Leavenworth 
Case 

A  LAWYER'S  STORY 
By  ANNA  KATHARINE  GREEN 

Author   of  "The  Millionaire  Baby;" 
"  The  Woman  in  the  Alcove,"  Etc.,  Etc. 

' 


Printed  under  Arrangement  with  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons. 
New  York  and  London 


A.  L.  BURT  COMPANY,  Publishers 
<*   &    j*        NEW  YORK       *   *    ot 


COYPRIGHT,   ^878 
BY 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 


COPYRIGHT,  1906 

BY 

G.  Po  PUTNAM'S  SONS 
In  renewal  of  copyright  originally  registered  in  1878 

This  Edition  is  printed  under  special  arrangement  with  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 


CONTENTS 


BOOK  I 


THE   PROBLEM 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.—"  A  GREAT  CASE" i 

II. —THE  CORONER'S  INQUEST n 

III.— FACTS  AND  DEDUCTIONS 17 

IV.— A  CLUE 36 

V. — EXPERT  TESTIMONY 43 

VI.— SiDE-IvIGHTS 51 

VII. — MARY  LEAVENWORTH 57 

VIII.— CIRCUMSTANTIAL  EVIDENCE       ....  65 

IX.— A  DISCOVERY 80 

x.— MR.  GRYCE  RECEIVES  NEW  IMPETUS        .       .  90 

XI. — THE  SUMMONS 101 

XII.— ELEANORE 108 

XIII.— THE  PROBLEM 115 

BOOK  II 
HENRY   CLAVERING 

XIV.— MR.  GRYCE  AT  HOME 123 

XV.— WAYS  OPENING 136 

XVI. — THE  WILL  OF  A  MILLIONAIRE    .        .        .        .146 

XVII. — THE  BEGINNING  OF  GREAT  SURPRISES      .        .  151 

XVIII.— ON  THE  STAIRS 162 

XIX. — IN  MY  OFFICE 170 

XX. — "TRUEMAN  !  TRUEMAN  !  TRUEMAN  !"      .        .177 

XXI.— A  PREJUDICE 183 


vi  Contents 

CHAPTER  fAGS 

XXII. —PATCH- WORK 191 

XXIII.—  THE  STORY  OF  A  CHARMING  WOMAN  .       .210 
XXIV.— A  REPORT  FOLLOWED  BY  SMOKE        .       .    220 

XXV. — TIMOTHY  COOK 230 

XXVI.— MR.  GRYCE  EXPLAINS  HIMSEU?  .       .       .239 


BOOK  III 
HANNAH 

xxvn.— AMY  BELDEN        «       .       f       ,       .       .251 

xxvili.— A  WEIRD  EXPERIENCE         .       .       .       .258 

XXIX.— THE  MISSING  WITNESS         .       .       .       .272 

XXX.— BURNED  PAPER      ......    278 

XXXI.-Q 285 

XXXII.— MRS.  BEI^DEN'S  NARRATIVE  .       .       .       .296 
XXXIII.— UNEXPECTED  TESTIMONY     .       .       .       .325 

BOOK  IV 
THE  PROBLEM  SOLVED 

XXXIV.— MR.  GRYCE  RESUMES  CONTROI,   .       .       .332 

XXXV.— FINE  WORK 351 

XXXVI.— GATHERED  THREADS 364 

XXXVII.— CULMINATION 373 

XXXVIII.— A  FITO  CONFESSION 384 

xxxix.— THE  OUTCOME  OF  A  GREAT  CRIME      .       •   405 


THE  LEAVENWORTH  CASE 


THE  LEAVENWORTH  CASE 


BOOK  I 

THE  PROBLEM 


"  A  deed  of  dreadful  note." 

Macbeth. 

I  HAD  been  a  junior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Veeley, 
Carr  &  Raymond,  attorneys  and  counsellors  at  law, 
for  about  a  year,  when  one  morning,  in  the  temporary 
absence  of  both  Mr.  Veeley  and  Mr.  Carr,  there  came 
into  our  office  a  young  man  whose  whole  appearance 
was  so  indicative  of  haste  and  agitation  that  I  involun 
tarily  rose  at  his  approach  and  impetuously  inquired: 

*  *  What  is  the  matter  ?    You  have  no  bad  news  to 
tell,  I  hope." 

"  I  have  come  to  see  Mr.  Veelej%*  is  he  in  ?  " 
11  No,"    I   replied  ;    "he  was  unexpectedly  called 
away  this  morning  to  Washington  ;  cannot  be  home 
before  to-morrow  ;  but  if  you  will  make  your  business 
known  to  me  ••  •-" 


2  The  Leavenworth  Case 

'To  you,  sir?"  he  repeated,  turning  a  very  cold 
but  steady  eye  on  mine  ;  then,  seeming  to  be  satisfied 
with  his  scrutiny,  continued,  "  There  is  no  reason  why 
I  should  n't  ;  my  business  is  no  secret.  I  came  to 
inform  him  that  Mr.  Leavenworth  is  dead." 

"  Mr.  Leavenworth  !  "  I  exclaimed,  falling  back  a 
step.  Mr.  Leavenworth  was  an  old  client  of  our  firm, 
to  say  nothing  of  his  being  the  particular  friend  of  Mr. 
Veeley. 

'  Yes,  murdered  ;  shot  through  the  head  by  some 
unknown  person  while  sitting  at  his  library  table." 

"  Shot  I  murdered  !  "  I  could  scarcely  believe  my 
ears. 

' '  How  ?  when  ?  "  I  gasped. 

"  Last  night.  At  least,  so  we  suppose.  He  was  not 
found  till  this  morning.  I  am  Mr.  Leavenworth's  pri 
vate  secretary,"  he  explained,  "  and  live  in  the  family. 
It  was  a  dreadful  shock,"  he  went  on,  (<  especially  to 
the  ladies." 

"Dreadful!"  I  repeated.  "Mr,  Veeley  will  be 
overwhelmed  by  it." 

"  They  are  all  alone,"  he  continued  in  a  low  business 
like  way  I  afterwards  found  to  be  inseparable  from  the 
man  ;  "  the  Misses  Leavenworth,  I  mean — Mr.  Leaven- 
worth's  nieces  ;  and  as  an  inquest  is  to  be  held  there 
to-day  it  is  deemed  proper  for  them  to  have  some  one 
present  capable  of  advising  them.  As  Mr.  Veeley  was 
their  uncle's  best  friend,  they  naturally  sent  me  for 
him;  but  he  being  absent  I  am  at  a  loss  wThat  to  do  or 
where  to  go. ' ' 

"  I  am  a  stranger  to  the  ladies,"  was  my  hesitating 
reply,  "  but  if  I  can  be  of  any  assistance  to  them,  my 
respect  for  their  uncle  is  such " 

The  expression  of  the  secretary's  eye  stopped  me. 


The  Problem  3 

Without  seeming  to  wander  from  my  face,  its  pupil  had 
suddenly  dilated  till  it  appeared  to  embrace  my  whole 
person  with  its  scope. 

"  I  don't  know,"  he  finally  remarked,  a  slight  frown 
testifying  to  the  fact  that  he  was  not  altogether  pleased 
with  the  turn  affairs  were  taking.  * '  Perhaps  it  would 
be  best.  The  ladies  must  not  be  left  alone " 

"  Say  no  more  ;  I  will  go."  And,  sitting  down,  I 
despatched  a  hurried  message  to  Mr.  Veeley,  after 
which,  and  the  few  other  preparations  necessary,  I 
accompanied  the  secretary  to  the  street. 

"  Now,"  said  I,  "  tell  me  all  you  know  of  this 
frightful  affair." 

"All  I  know?  A  few  words  will  do  that.  I  left 
him  last  night  sitting  as  usual  at  his  library  table,  and 
found  him  this  morning,  seated  in  the  same  place, 
almost  in  the  same  position,  but  with  a  bullet-hole  in 
his  head  as  large  as  the  end  of  my  little  finger." 

"Dead?" 

"  Stone-dead." 

"  Horrible!  "  I  exclaimed.  Then,  after  a  moment, 
-'  Could  it  have  been  a  suicide  ?  " 

"  No.  The  pistol  with  which  the  deed  was  com 
mitted  is  not  to  be  found." 

"  But  if  it  was  a  murder,  there  must  have  been  some 
motive.  Mr.  Leavenworth  was  too  benevolent  a  man 
to  have  enemies,  and  if  robbery  was  intended ' ' 

"  There  was  no  robbery.  There  is  nothing  miss 
ing,"  he  again  interrupted.  "  The  whole  affair  is  a 
mystery." 

"A  mystery?" 

"  An  utter  mystery." 

Turning,  I  looked  at  my  informant  curiously.  The 
inmate  of  a  house  in  which  a  mysterious  murder  had 


4  The  Leavenworth  Case 

occurred  was  rather  an  interesting  object.  But  the 
good-featured  and  yet  totally  unimpressive  countenance 
of  the  man  beside  me  offered  but  little  basis  for  even 
the  wildest  imagination  to  work  upon,  and,  glancing 
almost  immediately  away,  I  asked  : 

* '  Are  the  ladies  very  much  overcome  ?  ' ' 

He  took  at  least  a  half-dozen  steps  before  replying. 

"  It  would  be  unnatural  if  they  were  not."  And 
whether  it  was  the  expression  of  his  face  at  the  time, 
or  the  nature  of  the  reply  itself,  I  felt  that  in  speaking 
of  these  ladies  to  this  uninteresting,  self-possessed  sec 
retary  of  the  late  Mr.  Leavenworth,  I  was  somehow 
treading  upon  dangerous  ground.  As  I  had  heard 
they  were  very  accomplished  women,  I  was  not  alto 
gether  pleased  at  this  discovery.  It  was,  therefore, 
with  a  certain  consciousness  of  relief  I  saw  a  Fifth 
Avenue  stage  approach. 

"  We  will  defer  our  conversation,"  said  I.  "  Here  's 
the  stage." 

But,  once  seated  within  it,  we  soon  discovered  that 
all  intercourse  upon  such  a  subject  was  impossible. 
Employing  the  time,  therefore,  in  running  over  in  my 
mind  what  I  knew  of  Mr.  Leavenworth,  I  found  that 
my  knowledge  was  limited  to  the  bare  fact  of  his  being 
a  retired  merchant  of  great  wealth  and  fine  social  posi 
tion  who,  in  default  of  possessing  children  of  his  own, 
had  taken  into  his  home  two  nieces,  one  of  whom  had 
already  been  declared  his  heiress.  To  be  sure,  I  had 
heard  Mr.  Veeley  speak  of  his  eccentricities,  giving  as 
an  instance  this  very  fact  of  his  making  a  will  in  favor 
of  one  niece  to  the  utter  exclusion  of  the  other;  but  of 
his  habits  of  life  and  connection  with  the  world  at 
large,  I  knew  little  or  nothing. 

There  was  a  great  crowd  in  front  of  the  house  when 


The  Problem  5 

we  arrived  there,  and  I  had  barely  time  to  observe  that 
it  was  a  corner  dwelling  of  unusual  depth  when  I  was 
seized  by  the  throng  and  carried  quite  to  the  foot  of  the 
broad  stone  steps.  Extricating  myself,  though  with 
some  difficulty,  owing  to  the  importunities  of  a  boot 
black  and  butcher-boy,  who  seemed  to  think  that  by 
clinging  to  my  arms  they  might  succeed  in  smuggling 
themselves  into  the  house,  I  mounted  the  steps  and, 
rinding  the  secretary,  by  some  unaccountable  good  for 
tune,  close  to  my  side,  hurriedly  rang  the  bell.  Imme 
diately  the  door  opened,  and  a  face  I  recognized  as  that 
of  one  of  our  city  detectives  appeared  in  the  gap. 

"  Mr.  Gryce  !  "  I  exclaimed. 

"  The  same,"  he  replied.  "  Come  in,  Mr.  Ray 
mond."  And  drawing  us  quietly  into  the  house,  he 
shut  the  door  with  a  grim  smile  on  the  disappointed 
crowd  without.  "  I  trust  you  are  not  surprised  to  see 
me  here, ' '  said  he,  holding  out  his  hand,  with  a  side 
glance  at  my  companion. 

"  No,"  I  returned.  Then,  with  a  vague  idea  that  I 
ought  to  introduce  the  young  man  at  my  side,  con 
tinued  :  "  This  is  Mr.  ,  Mr. ,  — excuse  me, 

but  I  do  not  know  your  name,"  I  said  inquiringly  to 
my  companion.  '  The  private  secretary  of  the  late 
Mr.  I^eaven  worth,"  I  hastened  to  add. 

"  Oh,"  he  returned,  "  the  secretary  !  The  coroner 
has  been  asking  for  you,  sir." 

"  The  coroner  is  here,  then  ?  " 
1  Yes  ;  tfce  jury  have  just  gone  up-stairs  to  view  the 
body  ;  would  you  like  to  follow  them  ?  " 

"  No,  it  is  not  necessary.  I  have  merely  come  in 
the  hope  of  being  of  some  assistance  to  the  young 
ladies.  Mr.  Veeley  is  away." 

"  Arid  you  thought  the  opportunity  too  good  to  be 


6  The  Leavenworth  Case 

lost,''  he  went  on  ;  "  just  so.  Still,  now  that  you  are 
here,  and  as  the  case  promises  to  be  a  marked  one,  I 
should  think  that,  as  a  rising  young  lawyer,  you  would 
wish  to  make  yourself  acquainted  with  it  in  all  its 
details.  But  follow  your  own  judgment." 

I  made  an  effort  and  overcame  my  repugnance.  "  I 
will  go,"  said  I. 

"  Very  well,  then,  follow  me." 

But  just  as  I  set  foot  on  the  stairs  I  heard  the  jury 
descending,  so,  drawing  back  with  Mr.  Gryce  into  a 
recess  between  the  reception  room  and  the  parlor,  I 
had  time  to  remark  : 

"The  young  man  says  it  could  not  have  been  the 
work  of  a  burglar." 

"  Indeed!  "  fixing  his  eye  on  a  door-knob  near  by. 
'  That  nothing  has  been  found  missing " 

"  And  that  the  fastenings  to  the  house  were  all  found 
secure  this  morning  ;  just  so." 

"  He  did  not  tell  me  that.  In  that  case  "  —  and  I 
shuddered  —  "the  murderer  must  have  been  in  the 
house  all  night." 

Mr.  Gryce  smiled  darkly  at  the  door-knob. 

' '  It  has  a  dreadful  look !  "  I  exclaimed. 

Mr.  Gryce  immediately  frowned  at  the  door-knob. 

And  here  -let  me  say  that  Mr.  Gryce,  the  detectiv^, 
was  not  the  thin,  wiry  individual  with  the  piercing 
eye  you  are  doubtless  expecting  to  see.  On  the  con 
trary,  Mr.  Gryce  was  a  portly,  comfortable  personage 
with  an  eye  that  never  pierced,  that  did  not  even  rest 
on  you.  If  it  rested  anywhere,  it  was  always  on  some 
insignificant  object  in  the  vicinity,  some  vase,  ink 
stand,  book,  or  button.  These  things  he  would  seem 
to  take  into  his  confidence,  make  the  repositories  of  his 
conclusions;  but  as  for  you  —  you  might  as  well  be  the 


The  Problem  7 

steeple  on  Trinity  Church,  for  all  connection  you  ever 
appeared  to  have  with  him  or  his  thoughts.  At  pres 
ent,  then,  Mr.  Gryce  was,  as  I  have  already  suggested, 
on  intimate  terms  with  the  door-knob. 

"  A  dreadful  look,"  I  repeated. 

His  eye  shifted  to  the  button  on  my  sleeve. 

"  Come,"  he  said,  "  the  coast  is  clear  at  last.'* 

Leading  the  way,  he  mounted  the  stairs,  but  stopped 
on  the  upper  landing.  "  Mr.  Raymond,"  said  he,  "I 
am  not  in  the  habit  of  talking  much  about  the  secrets 
of  my  profession,  but  in  this  case  everything  depends 
upon  getting  the  right  clue  at  the  start.  We  have  no 
common  villainy  to  deal  with  here;  genius  has  been  at 
work.  Now  sometimes  an  absolutely  uninitiated  mind 
will  intuitively  catch  at  something  which  the  most 
highly  trained  intellect  will  miss.  If  such  a  thing 
should  occur,  remember  that  I  am  your  man.  Don't 
go  round  talking,  but  come  to  me.  For  this  is  going 
to  be  a  great  case,  mind  you,  a  great  case.  Now,  come 
on." 

1  'But  the  ladies?" 

'  '  They  are  in  the  rooms  above  ;  in  grief,  of  course, 
but  tolerably  composed  for  all  that,  I  hear."  And 
advancing  to  a  door,  he  pushed  it  open  and  beckoned 
me  in. 

All  was  dark  for  a  moment,  but  presently,  my  eyes 
becoming  accustomed  to  the  place,  I  saw  that  we  were 
in  the  library. 

"  It  was  here  he  was  found,"  said  he  ;  "  in  this  room 
and  upon  this  very  spot."  And  advancing,  he  laid  his 
hand  on  the  end  of  a  large  baize-covered  table  that, 
together  with  its  attendant  chairs,  occupied  the  centre 
of  the  room.  "  You  see  for  yourself  that  it  is  directly 
opposite  this  door,1  md,  crossing  the  floor,  he  paused 


8  The  Leavenworth  Case 

in  front  of  the  threshold  of  a  narrow  passageway,  open 
ing  into  a  room  beyond.*  "  As  the  murdered  man  was 
discovered  sitting  in  this  chair,  and  consequently  with 
his  back  towards  the  passageway,  the  assassin  must 
have  advanced  through  the  doorway  to  deliver  his  shot, 
pausing,  let  us  say,  about  here."  And  Mr.  Gryce 
planted  his  feet  firmly  upon  a  certain  spot  in  the  car 
pet,  about  a  foot  from  the  threshold  before  mentioned. 

"  But — "  I  hastened  to  interpose. 

' '  There  is  no  room  for  *  but, " '  he  cried.  * '  We  have 
studied  the  situation."  And  without  deigning  to  dilate 
upon  the  subject,  he  turned  immediately  about  and, 
stepping  swiftly  before  me,  led  the  way  into  the  pas 
sage  named.  "  Wine  closet,  clothes  closet,  washing 
apparatus,  towel-rack,"  he  explained,  waving  his  hand 
from  side  to  side  as  we  hurried  through,  finishing  with 
"  Mr.  Leavenworth's  private  apartment,"  as  that  room 
of  comfortable  aspect  opened  upon  us. 

Mr.  L,eavenworth's  private  apartment  !  It  was  here 
then  that  it  ought  to  be,  the  horrible,  blood-curdling  it 

*  For  those  who  are  interested  in  the  details  of  this  affair,  the 
following  diagram  is  given  : 


library  Bedroom 


Doot 


U 

q 


Kan 


Door        I"—"! 

I      r    m  I 


;.  Library  table.    2.  Chair.    3.  Passageway.    4.  Bed.    5.  Shaving  stand. 


The  Problem  9 

that  yesterday  was  a  living,  breathing  man.  Advan 
cing  to  the  bed  that  was  hung  with  heavy  curtains,  I 
raised  my  hand  to  put  them  back,  when  Mr.  Gryce, 
drawing  them  from  my  clasp,  disclosed  lying  upon  the 
pillow  a  cold,  calm  face  looking  so  natural  I  involun 
tarily  started. 

"  His  death  was  too  sudden  to  distort  the  features," 
he  remarked,  turning  the  head  to  one  side  in  a  way  to 
make  visible  a  ghastly  wound  in  the  back  of  the 
cranium.  "  Such  a  hole  as  that  sends  a  man  out  of 
the  world  without  much  notice.  The  surgeon  will 
convince  you  it  could  never  have  been  inflicted  by 
himself.  It  is  a  case  of  deliberate  murder." 

Horrified,  I  drew  hastily  back,  when  my  glance  fell 
upon  a  door  situated  directly  opposite  me  in  the  side  of 
the  wall  towards  the  hall.  It  appeared  to  be  the  only 
outlet  from  the  room,  with  the  exception  of  the  passage 
through  which  we  had  entered,  and  I  could  not  help 
wondering  if  it  was  through  this  door  the  assassin  had 
entered  on  his  roundabout  course  to  the  libra^.  But 
Mr.  Gryce,  seemingly  observant  of  my  glance,  though 
his  own  was  fixed  upon  the  chandelier, 'made  haste  to 
remark,  as  if  in  reply  to  the  inquiry  in  my  face  : 

"  Found  locked  on  the  inside  ;  may  have  come  that 
way  and  may  not  ;  we  don't  pretend  to  say." 

Observing  now  that  the  bed  was  undisturbed  in  its 
arrangement,  I  remarked,  "He  had  not  retired,  then  ?  " 

"  No  ;  the  tragedy  must  be  ten  hours  old.  Time  for 
the  murderer  to  have  studied  the  situation  and  pro 
vided  for  all  contingencies." 

"The  murderer?  Whom  do  you  suspect?"  I 
whispered. 

He  looked  impassively  at  the  ring  on  my  finger. 

"  Every  one   and   nobody.      It  is   not   for   me  to 


io  The  Leavenworth  Case 


suspect,  but  to  detect."      And  dropping  the  curtain 
into  its  former  position  he  led  me  from  the  room. 

The  coroner's  inquest  being  now  in  session,  I  felt  a 
strong  desire  to  be  present,  so,  requesting  Mr.  Gryce  to 
inform  the  ladies  that  Mr.  Veeley  was  absent  from 
town,  and  that  I  had  come  as  his  substitute,  to  render 
them  any  assistance  they  might  require  on  so  melan 
choly  an  occasion,  I  proceeded  to  the  large  parlor  below^ 
and  took  my  seat  among  the  various  persons  there 
assembled. 


n 

THE  CORONER'S  INQUEST 

"  The  baby  figure  of  the  giant  mass 
Of  things  to  come." 

Troilus  and  Cresstda. 

FOR  a  few  minutes  I  sat  dazed  by  the  sudden  flood 
of  light  greeting  me  from  the  many  open  win 
dows;  then,  as  the  strongly  contrasting  features  of  the 
scene  before  me  began  to  impress  themselves  upon  my 
consciousness,  I  found  myself  experiencing  something 
of  the  same  sensation  of  double  personality  which 
years  before  had  followed  an  enforced  use  of  ether. 
As  at  that  time,  I  appeared  to  be  living  two  lives  at 
once:  in  two  distinct  places,  with  two  separate  sets  of 
incidents  going  on;  so  now  I  seemed  to  be  divided 
between  two  irreconcilable  trains  of  thought ;  the  gor 
geous  house,  its  elaborate  furnishing,  the  little  glimpses 
of  yesterday's  life,  as  seen  in  the  open  piano,  with  its 
sheet  of  music  held  in  place  by  a  lady's  fan,  occupying 
my  attention  fully  as  much  as  the  aspect  of  the  throng 
of  incongruous  and  impatient  people  huddled  about 
me. 

Perhaps  one  reason  of  this  lay  in  the  extraordinary 
splendor  of  the  room  I  was  in  ;  the  glow  of  satin,  glit 
ter  of  bronze,  and  glimmer  of  marble  meeting  the  eye 
at  every  turn.  But  I  am  rather  inclined  to  think  it 
was  mainly  due  to  the  force  and  eloquence  of  a  certain 

is 


12  The  Leavenworth  Case 

picture  which  confronted  me  from  the  opposite  wall 
A  sweet  picture — sweet  enough  and  poetic  enough  to 
have  been  conceived  by  the  most  idealistic  of  artists  : 
simple,  too — the  vision  of  a  young  flaxen-haired,  blue- 
eyed  coquette,  dressed  in  the  costume  of  the  First  Em 
pire,  standing  in  a  wood-path,  looking  back  over  her 
shoulder  at  some  one  following — yet  with  such  a  dash 
of  something  not  altogether  saint-like  in  the  corners  of 
her  meek  eyes  and  baby-like  lips,  that  it  impressed  me 
with  the  individuality  of  life.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
open  dress,  with  its  waist  almost  beneath  the  armpits, 
the  hair  cut  short  on  the  forehead,  and  the  perfection 
of  the  neck  and  shoulders,  I  should  have  taken  it  for  a 
literal  portrait  of  one  of  the  ladies  of  the  house.  As  it 
was,  I  could  not  rid  myself  of  the  idea  that  one,  if  not 
both,  of  Mr.  I/eaven worth's  nieces  looked  down  upon 
me  from  the  eyes  of  this  entrancing  blonde  with  the 
beckoning  glance  and  forbidding  hand.  So  vividly  did 
this  fancy  impress  me  that  I  half  shuddered  as  I  looked, 
wondering  if  this  sweet  creature  did  not  know  whal 
had  occurred  in  this  house  since  the  happy  yesterday ; 
and  if  so,  how  she  could  stand  there  smiling  so  invit 
ingly, — when  suddenly  I  became  aware  that  I  had  been 
watching  the  little  crowd  of  men  about  me  with  as 
complete  an  absorption  as  if  nothing  else  in  the  room 
had  attracted  my  attention ;  that  the  face  of  the  coro 
ner,  sternly  intelligent  and  attentive,  was  as  dis 
tinctly  imprinted  upon  my  mind  as  that  of  this  lovely 
picture,  or  the  clearer-cut  and  more  noble  features 
of  the  sculptured  Psyche,  shining  in  mellow  beauty 
from  the  crimson-hung  window  at  his  right ;  yes,  even 
that  the  various  countenances  of  the  jurymen  clustered 
before  me,  commonplace  and  insignificant  as  most  of 
them  were;  the  trembling  forms  of  the  excited  servants 


The  Problem  13 

crowded  into  a  far  corner  ;  and  the  still  more  disagree 
able  aspect  of  the  pale-faced,  seedy  reporter,  seated  at 
a  small  table  and  writing  with  a  ghoul-like  avidity  that 
made  my  flesh  creep,  were  each  and  all  as  fixed  an  ele 
ment  in  the  remarkable  scene  before  me  as  the  splendor 
of  the  surroundings  which  made  their  presence  such  a 
nightmare  of  discord  and  unreality. 

I  have  spoken  of  the  coroner.  As  fortune  would 
have  it,  he  was  no  stranger  to  me.  I  had  not  only  seen 
him  before,  but  had  held  frequent  conversation  with 
him;  in  fact,  knew  him.  His  name  was  Hammond, 
and  he  was  universally  regarded  as  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  acuteness,  fully  capable  of  conducting  an  im 
portant  examination,  with  the  necessary  skill  ind 
address.  Interested  as  I  was,  or  rather  was  likely  lo 
be,  in  this  particular  inquiry,  I  could  not  but  congrat 
ulate  myself  upon  our  good  fortune  in  having  so  intel 
ligent  a  coroner. 

As  for  his  jurymen,  they  were,  as  I  have  intimated, 
very  much  like  all  other  bodies  of  a  similar  character. 
Picked  up  at  random  from  the  streets,  but  from  such 
streets  as  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Avenues,  they  presented 
much  the  same  appearance  of  average  intelligence  and 
refinement  as  might  be  seen  in  the  chance  occupants 
of  one  of  our  city  stages.  Indeed,  I  marked  but  one 
•amongst  them  all  who  seemed  to  take  any  interest  in 
the  inquiry  as  an  inquiry;  all  the  rest  appearing  to  be 
actuated  in  the  fulfilment  of  their  duty  by  the  com 
moner  instincts  of  pity  and  indignation. 

Dr.  Maynard,  the  well-known  surgeon  of  Thirty- 
sixth  Street,  was  the  first  witness  called.  His  testimony 
concerned  the  nature  of  the  wound  found  in  the  mur 
dered  man's  head.  As  some  of  the  facts  presented  by 
him  are  likely  to  prove  of  importance  to  us  in  our 


14  The  Leavenworth  Case 

narrative,  I  will  proceed  to  give  a  synopsis  of  what  he 
said. 

Prefacing  his  remarks  with  some  account  of  himself, 
and  the  manner  in  which  he  had  been  summoned  to 
the  house  by  one  of  the  servants,  he  went  on  to  state 
that,  upon  his  arrival,  he  found  the  deceased  lying  on  a 
bed  in  the  second-story  front  room,  with  the  blood 
clotted  about  a  pistol-wound  in  the  back  of  the  head  ; 
having  evidently  been  carried  there  from  the  adjoining 
apartment  some  hours  after  death.  It  was  the  only 
wound  discovered  on  the  body,  and  having  probed  it, 
he  had  found  and  extracted  the  bullet  which  he  now 
handed  to  the  jury.  It  was  lying  in  the  brain,  having 
entered  at  the  base  of  the  skull,  passed  obliquely  up 
ward,  and  at  once  struck  the  medulla  oblong ata^  causing 
instant  death.  The  fact  of  the  ball  having  entered  the 
brain  in  this  peculiar  manner  he  deemed  worthy  of 
note,  since  it  would  produce  not  only  instantaneous 
death,  but  an  utterly  motionless  one.  Further,  from 
the  position  of  the  bullet-hole  and  the  direction  taken 
by  the  bullet,  it  was  manifestly  impossible  that  the 
shot  should  have  been  fired  by  the  man  himself,  even 
if  the  condition  of  the  hair  about  the  wound  did  not 
completely  demonstrate  the  fact  that  the  shot  was  iired 
from  a  point  some  three  or  four  feet  distant.  Still  fur 
ther,  considering  the  angle  at  which  the  bullet  had 
entered  the  skull,  it  was  evident  that  the  deceased 
must  not  only  have  been  seated  at  the  time,  a  fact 
about  which  there  could  be  no  dispute,  but  he  must 
also  have  been  engaged  in  some  occupation  which  drew 
his  head  forward.  For,  in  order  that  a  ball  should 
enter  the  head  of  a  man  sitting  erect  at  the  angle  seen 
here,  of  45°,  it  would  be  necessary,  not  only  for  the 
pistol  to  be  held  very  low  down,  but  in  a  peculiar 


The  Problem  15 

position  ;  while  if  the  head  had  been  bent  forward,  as 
in  the  act  of  writing,  a  man  holding  a  pistol  naturally 
with  the  elbow  bent,  might  very  easily  fire  a  ball  into 
the  brain  at  the  angle  observed. 

Upon  being  questioned  in  regard  to  the  bodily  health 
of  Mr.  Leaven  worth,  he  replied  that  the  deceased  ap 
peared  to  have  been  in  good  condition  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  but  that,  not  being  his  attendant  physician, 
he  could  not  speak  conclusively  upon  the  subject  with 
out  further  examination  ;  and,  to  the  remark  of  a  jury 
man,  observed  that  he  had  not  seen  pistol  or  weapon 
lying  upon  the  floor,  or,  indeed,  anywhere  else  in  either 
of  the  above-mentioned  rooms. 

I  might  as  well  add  here  what  he  afterwards  stated, 
that  from  the  position  of  the  table,  the  chair,  and  the 
door  behind  it,  the  murderer,  in  order  to  satisfy  all  the 
conditions  imposed  by  the  situation,  must  have  stood 
upon,  or  just  within,  the  threshold  of  the  passageway 
leading  into  the  room  beyond.  Also,  that  as  the  ball 
was  small,  and  from  a  rifled  barrel,  and  thus  especially 
liable  to  deflections  while  passing  through  bones  and 
integuments,  it  seemed  to  him  evident  that  the  victim 
had  made  no  effort  to  raise  or  turn  his  head  when 
advanced  upon  by  his  destroyer;  the  fearful  conclusion 
being  that  the  footstep  was  an  accustomed  one,  and 
the  presence  of  its  possessor  in  the  room  either  known 
or  expected. 

The  plrysician's  testimony  being  ended,  the  coroner 
picked  up  the  bullet  which  had  been  laid  on  the  table 
before  him,  and  for  a  moment  rolled  it  contemplatively 
between  his  fingers;  then,  drawing  a  pencil  from  his 
pocket,  hastily  scrawled  a  line  or  two  on  a  piece  of 
paper  and,  calling  an  officer  to  his  side,  delivered  some 
command  in  a  low  tone.  The  officer,  taking  up  the 


1 6  The  Leavenworth  Case 

slip,  looked  at  it  for  an  instant  knowingly,  then  catch 
ing  up  his  hat  left  the  room.  Another  moment,  and 
the  front  door  closed  on  him,  and  a  wild  halloo  from 
the  crowd  of  urchins  without  told  of  his  appearance 
in  the  street.  Sitting  where  I  did,  I  had  a  full  view 
of  the  corner.  Looking  out,  I  saw  the  officer  stop 
there,  hail  a  cab,  hastily  enter  it,  and  disappear  in  the 
direction  of  Broadway. 


XXI 

FACTS  AND   DEDUCTIONS 

•*  Confusion  now  hath  made  his  master-piece ; 
Most  sacrilegious  murder  hath  broke  ope 
The  ford's  anointed  temple,  and  stolen  thence 
The  life  of  the  building." 

Macbeth. 

TRNING  my  attention  back  into  the  room  where  I 
was,  I  found  the  coroner  consulting  a  memoran 
dum  through  a  very  impressive  pair  of  gold  eye-glasses. 

"  Is  the  butler  here  ?  "  he  asked. 

Immediately  there  was  a  stir  among  the  group  of 
servants  in  the  corner,  and  an  intelligent-looking, 
though  somewhat  pompous,  Irishman  stepped  out  from 
their  midst  and  confronted  the  jury.  "  Ah,"  thought 
I  to  myself,  as  my  glance  encountered  his  precise  whis 
kers,  steady  eye,  and  respectfully  attentive,  though  by 
no  means  humble,  expression,  "  here  is  a  model  servant, 
who  is  likely  to  prove  a  model  witness."  And  I  was 
not  mistaken ;  Thomas,  the  butler,  was  in  all  respects 
one  in  a  thousand — and  he  knew  it. 

The  coroner,  upon  whom,  as  upon  all  others  in  the 
room,  he  seemed  to  have  made  the  like  favorable  im 
pression,  proceeded  without  hesitation  to  interrogate 
him. 

"  Your  name,  I  am  told,  is  Thomas  Dougherty  *  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 


A  8  The  Leavenworth  Case 

1 1  Well,  Thomas,  how  long  have  you  been  employed 
in  your  present  situation  ?  ' ' 

"  It  must  be  a  matter  of  two  years  now,  sir.*' 

"  You  are  the  person  who  first  discovered  the  body 
of  Mr.  Leavenworth  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  and  Mr.  Harwell." 

"  And  who  is  Mr.  Harwell  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Harwell  is  Mr.  Leavenworth' s  private  secre 
tary,  sir  ;  the  one  who  did  his  writing." 

"  Very  good.  Now  at  what  time  of  the  day  or  night 
did  you  make  this  discovery  ?  " 

"  It  was  early,  sir;  early  this  morning,  about  eight." 

"  And  where?" 

"  In  the  library,  sir,  off  Mr.  Leaven  worth's  bedroom. 
We  had  forced  our  way  in,  feeling  anxious  about  his 
not  coming  to  breakfast." 

"  You  forced  your  way  in  ;  the  door  was  locked, 
then?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  On  the  inside  ?" 

"  That  I  cannot  tell;  there  was  no  key  in  the  door." 

11  Where  was  Mr.  Leavenworth  lying  when  you  first 
found  him  ?  " 

"  He  was  not  lying,  sir.  He  was  seated  at  the  large 
table  in  the  centre  of  his  room,  his  back  to  the  bedroom 
door,  leaning  forward,  his  head  on  his  hands." 

"  How  was  he  dressed  ?  " 

"  In  his  dinner  suit,  sir,  just  as  he  came  from  the 
table  last  night." 

"  Were  there  any  evidences  in  the  room  that  a  strug 
gle  had  taken  place  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Any  pistol  on  the  floor  or  table  ? '" 

"  No,  sir  ?  " 


The  Problem  19 

"  Any  reason  to  suppose  that  robbery  had  been 
attempted?" 

"  No,  sir.  Mr.  Leavenworth's  watch  and  purse  were 
both  in  his  pockets." 

Being  asked  to  mention  who  were  in  the  house  at  the 
time  of  the  discovery,  he  replied,  "  The  young  ladies, 
Miss  Mary  L,eavenworth  and  Miss  Hleanore,  Mr.  Har 
well,  Kate  the  cook,  Molly  the  upstairs  girl,  and 
myself." 

"  The  usual  members  of  the  household  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Now  tell  me  whose  duty  it  is  to  close  up  the  house 
at  night." 

"  Mine,  sir." 

"  Did  you  secure  it  as  usual,  last  night  ?  " 

"  I  did,  sir." 

"  Who  unfastened  it  this  morning  ?  " 

"I,  sir." 

"  How  did  you  find  it?" 

"  Just  as  I  left  it." 

"  What,  not  a  window  open  nor  a  door  unlocked  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

By  this  time  you  could  have  heard  a  pin  drop.  The 
certainty  that  the  murderer,  whoever  he  was,  had  not 
left  the  house,  at  least  till  after  it  was  opened  in  the 
morning,  seemed  to  weigh  upon  all  minds.  Fore 
warned  as  I  had  been  of  the  fact,  I  could  not  but  feel 
a  certain  degree  of  emotion  at  having  it  thus  brought 
before  me  ;  and,  moving  so  as  to  bring  the  butler's  face 
within  view,  searched  it  for  some  secret  token  that  he 
had  spoken  thus  emphatically  in  order  to  cover  up 
some  failure  of  duty  on  his  own  part.  But  it  was  un 
moved  in  its  candor,  and  sustained  the  concentrated 
gaze  of  all  in  the  room  like  a  rock. 


20  The  Leavenworth  Case 

Being  now  asked  when  lie  had  last  seen  Mr. 
worth  alive,  he  replied,  "  At  dinner  last  night." 

*'  He  was,  however,  seen  later  by  some  of  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  Mr.  Harwell  says  he  saw  him  as  late  as 
half- past  ten  in  the  evening." 

11  What  room  do  you  occupy  in  this  house  ?  " 

"  A  little  one  on  the  basement  floor." 

*'  And  where  do  the  other  members  of  the  household 
sleep?" 

"  Mostly  on  the  third  floor,  sir  ;  the  ladies  in  the 
large  back  rooms,  and  Mr.  Harwell  in  the  little  one  in 
front.  The  girls  sleep  above." 

"  There  was  no  one  on  the  same  floor  with  Mr. 
Leavenworth  ?  ' ' 

"  No,  sir." 

"  At  what  hour  did  you  go  to  bed  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  should  say  about  eleven." 

"  Did  you  hear  any  noise  in  the  house  either  before 
or  after  that  time,  that  you  remember  ?  ' ' 

t(  No,  sir." 

"  So  that  the  discovery  you  made  this  morning  was 
a  surprise  to  you  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

Requested  now  to  give  a  more  detailed  account  of 
that  discovery,  he  went  on  to  say  it  was  not  till  Mr. 
Leavenworth  failed  to  come  to  his  breakfast  at  the  call 
of  the  bell  that  any  suspicion  arose  in  the  house  that 
all  was  not  right.  Even  then  they  waited  some  little 
time  before  doing  anything,  but  as  minute  after  minute 
went  by  and  he  did  not  come,  Miss  Kleanore  grew 
anxious,  and  finally  left  the  room  saying  she  would  go 
and  see  what  was  the  matter,  but  soon  returned  look, 
ing  very  much  frightened,  saying  she  had  knocked  at 
her  uncle's  door,  and  had  even  called  to  him,  but  could 


The  Problem  21 

get  no  answer.  At  which  Mr.  Harwell  and  himself 
had  gone  up  and  together  tried  both  doors,  and,  finding 
them  locked,  burst  open  that  of  the  library,  when  they 
came  upon  Mr.  Leavenworth,  as  he  had  already  said, 
sitting  at  the  table,  dead. 

"  And  the  ladies?" 

"  Oh,  they  followed  us  up  and  came  into  the  room 
and  Miss  Eleanore  fainted  away." 

"  And  the  other  one, —  Miss  Mary,  I  believe  they 
call  her?" 

"  I  don't  remember  anything  about  her;  I  was  so 
busy  fetching  water  to  restore  Miss  Kleanore,  I  did  n't 
notice. ' ' 

"  Well,  how  long  was  it  before  Mr.  l/eavenworth 
was  carried  into  the  next  room  ?  " 

"  Almost  immediate,  as  soon  as  Miss  Eleanore  re 
covered,  and  that  was  as  soon  as  ever  the  water  touched 
her  lips." 

"  Who  proposed  that  the  body  should  be  carried  from 
the  spot  ?" 

"  She,  sir.  As  soon  as  ever  she  stood  up  she  went 
over  to  it  and  looked  at  it  and  shuddered,  and  then 
calling  Mr.  Harwell  and  me,  bade  us  carry  him  in  and 
lay  him  on  the  bed  and  go  for  .the  doctor,  which  we 
did." 

"  Wait  a  moment ;  did  she  go  with  you  when  you 
went  into  the  other  room  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  What  did  she  do  ?" 

"  She  stayed  by  the  library  table." 

4 'What  doing?" 

"  I  could  n't  see  ;  her  back  was  to  me." 

' '  How  long  did  she  stay  there  ?  ' ' 

"  She  was  gone  when  we  came  back," 


22  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Gone  from  the  table  ?  " 

"  Gone  from  the  room." 

"  Humph  !  when  did  you  see  her  again  ?  " 

"  In  a  minute.  She  came  in  at  the  library  door  as 
we  went  out." 

"  Anything  in  her  hand  ?  " 

11  Not  as  I  see." 

"  Did  you  miss  anything  from  the  table  ?  " 

"  I  never  thought  to  look,  sir.  The  table  was 
nothing  to  me.  I  was  only  thinking  of  going  for  the 
doctor,  though  I  knew  it  was  of  no  use." 

'*  Whom  did  you  leave  in  the  room  when  you  went 
out?" 

:<  The  cook,  sir,  and  Molly,  sir,  and  Miss  Kleanore." 

"Not  Miss  Mary?" 

"  No,  sir." 

'  Very  well.  Have  the  jury  any  questions  to  put  to 
this  man  ?  " 

A  movement  at  once  took  place  in  that  profound 
body. 

"  I  should  like  to  ask  a  few,"  exclaimed  a  weazen- 
faced,  excitable  little  man  whom  I  had  before  noticed 
shifting  in  his  seat  in  a  restless  manner  strongly  sug 
gestive  of  an  intense  but  hitherto  repressed  desire  to 
interrupt  the  proceedings. 

"  Very  well,  sir,"    returned  Thomas. 

But  the  juryman  stopping  to  draw  a  deep  breath,  a 
large  and  decidedly  pompous  man  who  sat  at  his  right 
hand  seized  the  opportunity  to  inquire  in  a  round, 
listen-to-me  sort  of  voice  : 

"  You  say  you  have  been   in   the  family   for  two 
years.     Was  it  what  you  might  call  a  united  family  ?  " 
,  "United?" 

"  Affectionate,  you  know, — on  good  terms  with  each 


The  Problem  23 

other."  And  the  juryman  lifted  the  very  long  and 
heavy  watch-chain  that  hung  across  his  vest  as  if  that 
as  well  as  himself  had  a  right  to  a  suitable  and  well- 
considered  reply. 

The  butler,  impressed  perhaps  by  his  manner,  glanced 
uneasily  around.  "  Yes,  sir,  so  far  as  I  know." 

"  The  young  ladies  were  attached  to  their  uncle  ?  " 

"O  yes,  sir." 

* '  And  to  each  ocher  ?  ' ' 

"  Well,  yes,  I  suppose  so  ;  it 's  not  for  me  to  say." 

"  You  suppose  so.  Have  you  any  reason  to  think 
otherwise  ?  "  And  he  doubled  the  watch-chain  about 
his  fingers  as  if  he  would  double  its  attention  as  well  as 
his  own. 

Thomas  hesitated  a  moment.  But  just  as  his  inter 
locutor  was  about  to  repeat  his  question,  he  drew  him 
self  up  into  a  rather  stiff  and  formal  attitude  and 
replied  : 

"  Well,  sir,  no." 

The  juryman,  for  all  his  self-assertion,  seemed  to 
respect  the  reticence  of  a  servant  who  declined  to  give 
his  opinion  in  regard  to  such  a  matter,  and  drawing 
complacently  back,  signified  with  a  wave  of  his  hand 
that  he  had  no  more  to  say. 

Immediately  the  excitable  little  man,  before  men 
tioned,  slipped  forward  to  the  edge  of  his  chair  and 
asked,  this  time  without  hesitation  :  "At  what  time 
did  you  unfasten  the  house  this  morning  ?  " 

"  About  six,  sir." 

"  Now7,  could  any  one  leave  the  house  after  that  time 
without  your  knowledge  ?  " 

Thomas  glanced  a  trifle  uneasily  at  his  fellow-ser 
vants,  but  answered  up  promptly  and  as  if  without 
reserve : 


24  The  Leavenworth  Case 

11 1  don't  think  it  would  be  possible  for  anybody  to 
leave  this  house  after  six  in  the  morning  without  either 
myself  or  the  cook's  knowing  of  it.  Folks  don't  jump 
from  second-story  windows  in  broad  daylight,  and  as  to 
leaving  by  the  doors,  the  front  door  closes  with  such  a 
slam  all  the  house  can  hear  it  from  top  to  bottom,  and 
as  for  the  back-door,  no  one  that  goes  out  of  that  can 
get  clear  of  the  yard  without  going  by  the  kitchen  win 
dow,  and  no  one  can  go  by  our  kitchen  window  with 
out  the  cook's  a-seeing  of  them,  that  I  can  just 
swear  to."  And  he  cast  a  half-quizzing,  half-ma 
licious  look  at  the  round,  red-faced  individual  in 
question,  strongly  suggestive  of  late  and  unforgotten 
bickerings  over  the  kitchen  coffee-urn  and  castor. 

This  reply,  which  was  of  a  nature  calculated  to 
deepen  the  forebodings  which  had  alread}7  settled  upon 
the  minds  of  those  present,  produced  a  visible  effect. 
The  house  found  locked,  and  no  one  seen  to  leave  it  ! 
Evidently,  then,  we  had  not  far  to  look  for  the  assassin. 

Shifting  on  his  chair  with  increased  fervor,  if  I  may 
so  speak,  the  juryman  glanced  sharply  around.  But 
perceiving  the  renewed  interest  in  the  faces  about  him, 
declined  to  weaken  the  effect  of  the  last  admission,  by 
any  further  questions.  Settling,  therefore,  comfortably 
back,  he  left  the  field  open  for  any  other  juror  who 
might  choose  to  press  the  inquiry.  But  no  one  seem 
ing  to  be  ready  to  do  this,  Thomas  in  his  turn  evinced 
impatience,  and  at  last,  looking  respectfully  around, 
inquired  : 

"  Would  any  other  gentleman  like  to  ask  me  any 
thing  ?" 

No  one  replying,  he  threw  a  hurried  glance  of  relief 
towards  the  servants  at  his  side,  then,  while  each  one 
marvelled  at  the  sudden  change  that  had  taken  place 


The  Problem  25 

in  his  countenance,  withdrew  with  an  eager  alacrity 
and  evident  satisfaction  for  which  I  could  not  at  the 
moment  account. 

But  the  next  witness  proving  to  be  none  other  than 
my  acquaintance  of  the  morning,  Mr.  Harwell,  I  soon 
forgot  both  Thomas  and  the  doubts  his  last  movement 
had  awakened,  in  the  interest  which  the  examination 
of  so  important  a  person  as  the  secretary  and  right- 
hand  man  of  Mr.  L,eavenworth  was  likely  to  create. 

Advancing  with  the  calm  and  determined  air  of  one 
who  realized  that  life  and  death  itself  might  hang  upon 
his  words,  Mr.  Harwell  took  his  stand  before  the  jury 
with  a  degree  of  dignity  not  only  highly  prepossessing 
in  itself,  but  to  me,  who  had  not  been  over  and  above 
pleased  with  him  in  our  first  interview,  admirable  and 
surprising.  Lacking,  as  I  have  said,  any  distinctive 
quality  of  face  or  form  agreeable  or  otherwise  —  being 
what  you  might  call  in  appearance  a  negative  sort  of 
person,  his  pale,  regular  features,  dark,  well-smoothed 
hair  and  simple  whiskers,  all  belonging  to  a  recognized 
type  and  very  commonplace — there  was  still  visible,  on 
this  occasion  at  least,  a  certain  self-possession  in  his 
carriage,  which  went  far  towards  making  up  for  the 
want  of  impressiveness  in  his  countenance  and  expres 
sion.  Not  that  even  this  was  in  any  way  remarkable. 
Indeed,  there  was  nothing  remarkable  about  the  man, 
any  more  than  there  is  about  a  thousand  others  you 
meet  every  day  on  Broadway,  unless  you  except  the 
look  of  concentration  and  solemnity  which  pervaded 
his  whole  person  ;  a  solemnity  which  at  this  time 
would  not  have  been  noticeable,  perhaps,  if  it  had  not 
appeared  to  be  the  habitual  expression  of  one  who  in  , 
his  short  life  had  seen  more  of  sorrow  than  joy,  less  of 
pleasure  than  care  and  anxiety. 


26  The  Leavenworth  Case 

The  coroner,  to  whom  his  appearance  one  way  or  the 
other  seemed  to  be  a  matter  of  no  moment,  addressed 
him  immediately  and  without  reserve  : 

"  Your  name?" 

"  James  Trueman  Harwell." 

"  Your  business?  " 

"  I  have  occupied  the  position  of  private  secretary 
and  amanuensis  to  Mr.  Leavenworth  for  the  past  eight 
months." 

'  You  are  the  person  who  last  saw  Mr.  L,eavenworth 
alive,  are  you  not  ?  " 

The  young  man  raised  his  head  with  a  haughty  ges 
ture  which  well-nigh  transfigured  it. 

"  Certainly  not,  as  I  am  not  the  man  who  killed 
him." 

This  answer,  which  seemed  to  introduce  something 
akin  to  levity  or  badinage  into  an  examination  the 
seriousness  of  which  we  were  all  beginning  to  realize, 
produced  an  immediate  revulsion  of  feeling  toward  the 
man  who,  in  face  of  facts  revealed  and  to  be  revealed, 
could  so  lightly  make  use  of  it.  A  hum  of  disapproval 
swept  through  the  room,  and  in  that  one  remark,  James 
Harwell  lost  all  that  he  had  previously  won  by  the  self- 
possession  of  his  bearing  and  the  unflinching  regard  of 
his  eye.  He  seemed  himself  to  realize  this,  for  he 
lifted  his  head  still  higher,  though  his  general  aspect 
remained  unchanged. 

"  I  mean,"  the  coroner  exclaimed,  evidently  nettled 
that  the  young  man  had  been  able  to  draw  such  a  con 
clusion  from  his  words,  "  that  you  were  the  last  one  to 
see  him  previous  to  his  assassination  by  some  unknown 
individual  ?  " 

The  secretary  folded  his  arms,  whether  to  hide  a  cer 
tain  tremble  which  had  seized  him,  or  by  that  simple 


The  Problem  27 

action  to  gain  time  for  a  moment's  further  thought,  I 
could  not  then  determine.  ' '  Sir, ' '  he  replied  at  length, 
4<  I  cannot  answer  yes  or  no  to  that  question.  In  all 
probability  I  was  the  last  to  see  him  in  good  health 
and  spirits,  but  in  a  house  as  large  as  this  I  cannot  be 
sure  of  even  so  simple  a  fact  as  that."  Then,  observ 
ing  the  unsatisfied  look  on  the  faces  around,  added 
slowly,  "  It  is  my  business  to  see  him  late." 

"  Your  business  ?    Oh,  as  his  secretary,  I  suppose  ?  " 

He  gravely  nodded. 

"  Mr.  Harwell,"  the  coroner  went  on,  "  the  office  of 
private  secretary  in  this  country  is  not  a  common  one. 
Will  you  explain  to  us  what  your  duties  were  in  that 
capacity  ;  in  short,  what  use  Mr.  Leavenworth  had  for 
such  an  assistant  and  how  he  employed  you  ?  ' ' 

"  Certainly.  Mr.  Leavenworth  was,  as  you  perhaps 
know,  a  man  of  great  wealth.  Connected  with  various 
societies,  clubs,  institutions,  etc.,  besides  being  known 
far  and  near  as  a  giving  man,  he  was  accustomed  every 
day  of  his  life  to  receive  numerous  letters,  begging  and 
otherwise,  which  it  was  my  business  to  open  and 
answer,  his  private  correspondence  always  bearing  a 
mark  upon  it  which  distinguished  it  from  the  rest. 
But  this  was  not  all  I  was  expected  to  do.  Having  in 
his  early  life  been  engaged  in  the  tea-trade,  he  had 
made  more  than  one  voyage  to  China,  and  was  conse 
quently  much  interested  in  the  question  of  international 
communication  between  that  country  and  our  own. 
Thinking  that  in  his  various  visits  there,  he  had 
learned  much  which,  if  known  to  the  American  people, 
would  conduce  to  our  better  understanding  of  the 
nation,  its  peculiarities,  and  the  best  manner  of  dealing 
with  it,  he  has  been  engaged  for  some  time  in  writing  a 
book  on  the  subject,  which  same  it  has  been  my  business 


28  The  Leavenworth  Case 

for  the  last  eight  months  to  assist  him  in  prepar 
ing,  by  writing  at  his  dictation  three  hours  out  of  the 
twenty-four,  the  last  hour  being  commonly  taken  from 
the  evening,  say  from  half-past  nine  to  half-past  ten, 
Mr,  Jreavenworth  being  a  very  methodical  man  and 
accustomed  to  regulate  his  own  life  and  that  oi  those 
about  him  with  almost  mathematical  precision.** 

"  You  say  you  were  accustomed  to  write  at  his 
dictation  evenings?  Did  you  do  this  as  usual  last 
evening  ?" 

"  I  did,  sir." 

**  What  can  you  tell  us  of  his  manner  and  appearance 
at  the  time  ?  Were  they  in  any  way  unusual  ?  " 

A  frown  crossed  the  secretary's  brow. 

"  As  he  probably  had  no  premonition  of  his  doom, 
why  sliould  there  have  been  any  change  in  his  man 
ner  ?" 

This  giving  the  coroner  an  opportunity  to  revenge 
himself  for  his  discomfiture  of  a  moment  before,  he  said 
somewhat  severely  : 

"  It  is  the  business  of  a  witness  to  answer  questions, 
not  to  put  them." 

The  secretary  flushed  and  the  account  stood  even. 

"  Very  well,  then,  sir  ;  if  Mr.  Leavenworth  felt  any 
forebodings  of  his  end,  he  did  not  reveal  them  to  me. 
On  the  contrary,  he  seemed  to  be  more  absorbed  in  his 
work  than  usual.  One  of  the  last  words  he  said  to  me 
was,  '  In  a  month  we  will  have  this  book  in  press,  eh, 
Trueman  ?  *  I  remember  this  particularly,  as  he  was 
filling  his  wine-glass  at  the  time.  He  always  drank 
one  glass  of  wine  before  retiring,  it  being  my  duty  to 
bring  the  decanter  of  sherry  from  the  closet  the  last 
thing  before  leaving  him.  I  was  standing  with  my 
hand  on  the  knob  of  the  hall-door,  but  advanced  as  he 


The  Problem  29 

said  this  and  replied,  '  I  hope  so,  indeed,  Mr.  I^eaven- 
worth.'  '  Then  join  me  in  drinking  a  glass  of  sherry,1 
said  he,  motioning  me  to  procure  another  glass  from 
the  closet.  I  did  so,  and  he  poured  me  out  the  wine 
with  his  own  hand.  I  am  not  especially  fond  of  sherry, 
but  the  occasion  was  a  pleasant  one  and  I  drained  my 
glass.  I  remember  being  slightly  ashamed  of  doing  so,, 
for  Mr.  I/eavenworth  set  his  down  half  full.  It  was 
half  full  when  we  found  him  this  morning." 

Do  what  he  would,  and  being  a  reserved  man  he 
appeared  anxious  to  control  his  emotion,  the  horror  of 
his  first  shock  seemed  to  overwhelm  him  here.  Pulling 
his  handkerchief  from  his  pocket,  he  wiped  his  fore 
head.  "  Gentlemen,  that  is  the  last  action  of  Mr. 
Leavenworth  I  ever  saw.  As  he  set  the  glass  down 
on  the  table,  I  said  good-night  to  him  and  left  the 
room." 

The  coroner,  with  a  characteristic  imperviousness  to 
all  expressions  of  emotion,  leaned  back  and  surveyed 
the  young  man  with  a  scrutinizing  glance.  *'  And 
where  did  you  go  then  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  To  my  own  room." 

"  Did  you  meet  anybody  on  the  way  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Hear  anything  or  see  anything  unusual  ?  ft 

The  secretary's  voice  fell  a  trifle.     "  No,  sir." 

"  Mr.  Harwell,  think  again.  Are  you  ready  to 
swear  that  you  neither  met  anybody,  heard  anybody, 
nor  saw  anything  which  lingers  yet  in  your  memory  as 
unusual  ? ' ' 

His  face  grew  quite  distressed.  Twice  he  opened 
his  lips  to  speak,  and  as  often  closed  them  without 
doing  so.  At  last,  with  an  effort,  he  replied  : 

"  I  saw  one  thing,    a  little  thing,   too   slight   to 


3°  The  Leavenworth  Case 

mention,  but  it  was  unusual,  and  I  could  not  help 
thinking  of  it  when  you  spoke." 

"What  was  it  ?" 

"  Only  a  door  half  open." 

"  Whose  door?  " 

"  Miss  Kleanore  Lea veri worth's."  His  voice  was 
almost  a  whisper  now. 

' '  Where  were  you  when  you  observed  this  fact  ? ' ' 

"  I  cannot  say  exactly.  Probably  at  my  own  door, 
as  I  did  not  stop  on  the  way.  If  this  frightful  occur 
rence  had  not  taken  place  I  should  never  have  thought 
of  it  again." 

"  When  you  went  into  your  room  did  you  close  your 
door?" 

"  I  did,  sir." 

"  How  soon  did  you  retire  ?  " 

"  Immediately." 

"  Did  you  hear  nothing  before  you  fell  asleep  ?  " 

Again  that  indefinable  hesitation. 

"  Barely  nothing." 

"  Not  a  footstep  in  the  hall  ?  " 

"  I  might  have  heard  a  footstep." 

"Did  you?" 

"  I  cannot  swear  I  did." 

"  Do  you  think  you  did  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  think  I  did.  To  tell  the  whole  :  I  remenibei 
hearing,  just  as  I  was  falling  into  a  doze,  a  rustle  and 
a  footstep  in  the  hall ;  but  it  made  no  impression  upon 
me,  and  I  dropped  asleep." 

"Well?" 

"  Some  time  later  I  woke,  woke  suddenly,  as  if  some 
thing  had  startled  me,  but  what,  a  noise  or  move,  I 
cannot  say.  I  remember  rising  up  in  my  bed  and 
looking  around,  but  hearing  nothing  further,  soon 


The  Problem  31 

yielded  to  the  drowsiness  which  possessed  me  and  fell 
into  a  deep  sleep.  I  did  not  wake  again  till  morning." 

Here  requested  to  relate  how  and  when  he  became 
acquainted  with  the  fact  of  the  murder,  he  substan 
tiated,  in  all  particulars,  the  account  of  the  matter 
already  given  by  the  butler  ;  which  subject  being  ex 
hausted,  the  coroner  went  on  to  ask  if  he  had  noted  the 
condition  of  the  library  table  after  the  body  had  been 
removed. 

"  Somewhat ;  yes,  sir." 

"What  was  on  it?" 

"  The  usual  properties,  sir,  books,  paper,  a  pen  with 
the  ink  dried  on  it,  besides  the  decanter  and  the  wine 
glass  from  which  he  drank  the  night  before." 

"  Nothing  more  ?  " 

"  I  remember  nothing  more." 

"  In  regard  to  that  decanter  and  glass,"  broke  in  the 
juryman  of  the  watch  and  chain,  "  did  you  not  say 
that  the  latter  was  found  in  the  same  condition  in 
which  you  saw  it  at  the  time  you  left  Mr.  Leavenworth 
sitting  in  his  library  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  very  much." 

"  Yet  he  was  in  the  habit  of  drinking  a  full  glass  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  An  interruption  must  then  have  ensued  very  close 
upon  your  departure,  Mr.  Harwell." 

A  cold  bluish  pallor  suddenly  broke  out  upon  the 
young  man's  face.  He  started,  and  for  a  moment 
looked  as  if  struck  by  some  horrible  thought.  "  That 
does  not  follow,  sir,"  he  articulated  with  some  diffi 
culty.  "  Mr.  Leaven  worth  might  —  "  but  suddenly 
stopped,  as  if  too  much  distressed  to  proceed. 

"  Go  on,  Mr.  Harwell,  let  us  hear  what  you  have  to 


32  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  There  is  nothing/'  he  returned  faintly,  as  if  bat 
tling  with  some  strong  emotion. 

As  he  had  not  been  answering  a  question,  only  vol 
unteering  an  explanation,  the  coroner  let  it  pass  ;  but  1 
saw  more  than  one  pair  of  eyes  roll  suspiciously  from 
side  to  side,  as  if  many  there  felt  that  same  sort  of  clue 
had  been  offered  them  in  this  man's  emotion.  The 
coroner,  ignoring  in  his  easy  way  both  the  emotion 
and  the  universal  excitement  it  had  produced,  now 
proceeded  to  ask  :  "  Do  you  know  whether  the  key  to 
the  library  was  in  its  place  when  you  left  the  room  last 
night  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  did  not  notice." 

"  The  presumption  is,  it  was  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  so.'* 

'*  At  all  events,  the  door  was  locked  in  the  morning, 
and  the  key  gone  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

44  Then  whoever  committed  this  murder  locked  the 
door  on  passing  out,  and  took  away  the  key  ?  '  * 

"  It  would  seem  so." 

The  coroner  turning,  faced  the  jury  with  an  earnest 
look.  "  Gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  there  seenis  to  be  a 
mystery  in  regard  to  this  key  which  must  be  looked 
into." 

Immediately  a  universal  murmur  swept  through  the 
room,  testifying  to  the  acquiescence  of  ail  present.  The 
little  juryman  hastily  rising  proposed  that  an  instant 
search  should  be  made  for  it ;  but  the  coroner,  turn 
ing  upon  him  with  what  I  should  denominate  as  a 
quelling  look,  decided  that  the  inquest  .should  proceed 
in  the  usual  manner,  till  the  verbal  testimony  was 
all  in. 

•'  Then  allow  me  to  ask  a  question/*  again  volun- 


The  Problem  33 

teered  the  Irrepressible.  "  Mr.  Harwell,  we  are  told 
that  upon  the  breaking  in  of  the  library  door  this 
morning,  Mr.  I,eavenworth's  two  nieces  followed  you 
into  the  room." 

"  One  of  them,  sir,  Miss  Eleanore." 

"  Is  Miss  Eleanore  the  one  who  is  said  to  be  Mr. 
Leaven  worth's  sole  heiress  ?  "  the  coroner  here  inter 
posed. 

"  No,  sir,  that  is  Miss  Mary." 

"  That  she  gave  orders,"  pursued  the  juryman,  "  for 
the  removal  of  the  body  into  the  further  room  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

rc  And  that  you  obeyed  her  by  helping  to  carry  it 
in?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Now,  in  thus  passing  through  the  rooms,  did  you 
observe  anything  to  lead  you  to  form  a  suspicion  of 
the  murderer?  " 

The  secretary  shook  his  head.  "  I  have  no  sus 
picion,"  he  emphatically  said. 

Somehow,  I  did  not  believe  him.  Whether  it  was 
the  tone  of  his  voice,  the  clutch  of  his  hand  on  his 
sleeve  —  and  the  hand  will  often  reveal  more  than  the 
countenance  —  I  felt  that  this  man  was  not  to  be  relied 
upon  in  making  this  assertion. 

"  I  should  like  to  ask  Mr.  Harwell  a  question,"  said 
a  juryman  who  had  not  yet  spoken.  "  We  have  had  a 
detailed  account  of  what  looks  like  the  discovery  of  a 
murdered  man.  Now,  murder  is  never  committed  with 
out  some  motive.  Does  the  secretary  know  whether 
Mr.  Leavenworth  had  any  secret  enemy  ?" 

"  T  do  not." 

"  Every  one  in  the  house  seemed  to  be  on  good  terms 
with  him?" 


34  The  Leavenworth  Case 

'  Yes,  sir,"  with  a  little  quaver  of  dissent  in  the 
assertion,  however. 

"  Not  a  shadow  lay  between  him  and  any  other 
member  of  his  household,  so  far  as  you  know  ? ' ' 

"  I  am  not  ready  to  say  that,"  he  returned,  quite 
distressed.  "  A  shadow  is  a  very  slight  thing.  There 
might  have  been  a  shadow ' ' 

' '  Between  him  and  whom  ?  ' ' 

A  long  hesitation.     "  One  of  his  nieces,  sir.*' 

"Which  one?" 

Again  that  defiant  lift  of  the  head.  "  Miss  Klea- 
nore." 

"  How  long  has  this  shadow  been  observable  ?  " 

' '  I  cannot  say. ' ' 

"  You  do  not  know  the  cause  ?  " 

"  I  do  not." 

"  Nor  the  extent  of  the  feeling  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  You  open  Mr.  Leaven  worth's  letters  ?  " 

'.'Ida" 

"  Has  there  been  anything  in  his  correspondence 
of  late  calculated  to  throw  any  light  upon  this 
deed?" 

It  actually  seemed  as  if  he  never  would  answer. 
Was  he  simply  pondering  over  his  reply,  or  was  the 
man  turned  to  stone  ? 

"  Mr.  Harwell,  did  you  hear  the  juryman  ?  "  in 
quired  the  coroner. 

"  Yes,  sir;  I  was  thinking." 

"  Very  well,  now  answer." 

"  Sir,"  he  replied,  turning  and  looking  the  juryman 
full  in  the  face,  and  in  that  way  revealing  his  un 
guarded  left  hand  to  my  gaze,  "  I  have  opened  Mr. 
Leavenworth's  letters  as  usual  for  the  last  two  weeks, 


The  Problem  35 

and  I  can  think  of  nothing  in  them  bearing  in  the  least 
upon  this  tragedy." 

The  man  lied  ;  I  knew  it  instantly.  The  clenched 
hand  pausing  irresolute,  then  making  up  its  mind  to  go 
through  with  the  lie  firmly,  was  enough  for  me. 

"  Mr.  Harwell,  this  is  undoubtedly  true  according  to 
your  judgment,"  said  the  coroner  ;  "  but  Mr.  L,eaven- 
worth's  correspondence  will  have  to  be  searched  for  all 
that." 

"  Of  course,"  he  replied  carelessly;  "that  is  only 
right." 

This  remark  ended  Mr.  Harwell's  examination  for 
the  time.  As  he  sat  down  I  made  note  of  four  things. 

That  Mr.  Harwell  himself,  for  some  reason  not 
given,  was  conscious  of  a  suspicion  which  he  was 
anxious  to  suppress  even  from  his  own  mind. 

That  a  woman  was  in  some  way  connected  with  it,  a 
rustle  as  well  as  a  footstep  having  been  heard  by  him 
on  the  stairs. 

That  a  letter  had  arrived  at  the  house,  which  if  found 
would  be  likely  to  throw  some  light  upon  this  subject. 

That  Eleanore  L,eavenworth's  name  came  with  diffi 
culty  from  his  lips  ;  this  evidently  unimpressible  man, 
manifesting  more  or  less  emotion  whenever  he  was 
called  upon  to  utter  it. 


IV 
A  cum 

41  Something  is  rotten  in  the  State  of  Denmark.'* 

Hamlet. 

cook  of  the  establishment  being  now  called, 
1  that  portly,  ruddy-faced  individual  stepped  for 
ward  with  alacrity,  displaying  upon  her  good-humored 
countenance  such  an  expression  of  mingled  eagerness 
and  anxiety  that  more  than  one  person  present  found 
it  difficult  to  restrain  a  smile  at  her  appearance.  Ob 
serving  this  and  taking  it  as  a  compliment,  being  a 
woman  as  well  as  a  cook,  she  immediately  dropped  a 
curtsey,  and  opening  her  lips  was  about  to  speak,  when 
the  coroner,  rising  impatiently  in  his  seat,  took  the 
word  from  her  mouth  by  saying  sternly  : 

"Your  name?" 

"  Katharine  Malone,  sir." 

"  Well,  Katherine,  how  long  have  you  been  in  Mr. 
Leavenworth's  service  ?  " 

' '  Shure,  it  is  a  good  twelvemonth  now,  sir,  since  I 
came,  on  Mrs.  Wilson's  ricommindation,  to  that  very 
front  door,  and " 

"  Never  mind  the  front  door,  but  tell  us  why  you 
left  this  Mrs.  Wilson?" 

"  Shure,  and  it  was  she  as  left  me,  being  as  she  went 
sailing  to  the  ould  country  the  same  day  when  on  her 

ricommindation  I  came  to  this  very  front  door -" 

36 


The  Problem  37 

"  Well,  well ;  no  matter  about  that.  You  have  been 
in  Mr.  L,eavenworth's  family  a  year  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  And  liked  it  ?  found  him  a  good  master  ?  " 

"  Och,  sir,  niver  have  I  found  a  better,  worse  luck 
to  the  villain  as  killed  him.  He  was  that  free  and 
ginerous,  sir,  that  many  's  the  time  I  have  said  to 
Hannah — "  She  stopped,  with  a  sudden  comical  gasp 
of  terror,  looking  at  her  fellow-servants  like  one  who 
had  incautiously  made  a  slip.  The  coroner,  observing 
this,  inquired  hastily  : 

' '  Hannah  ?     Who  is  Hannah  ?  ' ' 

The  cook,  drawing  her  roly-poly  figure  up  into  some 
sort  of  shape  in  her  efforts  to  appear  unconcerned, 
exclaimed  boldly  :  "  She  ?  Oh,  only  the  ladies'  maid, 
sir." 

"  But  I  don't  see  any  one  here  answering  to  that  de 
scription.  You  did  n't  speak  of  any  one  by  the  name 
of  Hannah,  as  belonging  to  the  house,"  said  he,  turn 
ing  to  Thomas. 

' '  No,  sir, ' '  the  latter  replied,  with  a  bow  and  a  side 
long  look  at  the  red-cheeked  girl  at  his  side.  "  You 
asked  me  who  were  in  the  house  at  the  time  the  murder 
was  discovered,  and  I  told  you." 

* '  Oh, ' '  cried  the  coroner,  satirically  ;  * '  used  to  police 
courts,  I  see."  Then,  turning  back  to  the  cook,  who 
had  all  this  while  been  rolling  her  eyes  in  a  vague 
fright  about  the  room,  inquired,  "  And  where  is  this 
Hannah?" 

"  Shure,  sir,  she  's  gone." 

"  How  long  since  ?  " 

The  cook  caught  her  breath  hysterically.  ' '  Since 
last  night." 

"  What  time  last  night  ?  " 


38  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Troth,  sir,  and  I  don't  know.  I  don't  know  any 
thing  about  it." 

"  Was  she  dismissed?" 

<c  Not  as  I  knows  on  ;  her  clothes  is  here." 

"  Oh,  her  clothes  are  here.  At  what  hour  did  you 
miss  her  ?  " 

"  I  did  n't  miss  her.  She  was  here  last  night,  and 
she  is  n't  here  this  morning,  and  so  I  says  she  's 
gone." 

' '  Humph !  ' '  cried  the  coroner,  casting  a  slow  glance 
down  the  room,  while  every  one  present  looked  as  if  a 
door  had  suddenly  opened  in  a  closed  wall. 

"  Where  did  this  girl  sleep  ?  " 

The  cook,  who  had  been  fumbling  uneasily  with  her 
apron,  looked  up. 

' '  Shure,  we  all  sleeps  at  the  top  of  the  house,  sir. ' ' 

"  In  one  room  ?  " 

Slowly.     "Yes,  sir." 

"  Did  she  come  up  to  the  room  last  night  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  At  what  hour?" 

"  Shure,  it  was  ten  when  we  all  came  up.  I  heard 
the  clock  a-striking." 

"  Did  you  observe  anything  unusual  in  her  appear 
ance  ?" 

' '  She  had  a  toothache,  sir. ' ' 

"  Oh,  a  toothache;  what,  then  ?  Tell  me  all  she  did." 

But  at  this  the  cook  broke  into  tears  and  wails. 

"  Shure,  she  did  n't  do  nothing,  sir.  It  was  n't  her, 
sir,  as  did  anything  ;  don't  you  believe  it.  Hannah  is  a 
good  girl,  and  honest,  sir,  as  ever  you  see.  I  am  ready 
to  swear  on  the  Book  as  how  she  never  put  her  hand 
to  the  lock  of  his  door.  What  should  she  for  ?  She 
only  went  down  to  Miss  Eleanore  for  some  toothache- 


The  Problem  39 

drops,  her  face  was  paining  her  that  awful ;  and  oh$ 
sir " 

"  There,  there,"  interrupted  the  coroner,  "  I  am  not 
accusing  Hannah  of  anything.  I  only  asked  you  what 
she  did  after  she  reached  your  room.  She  went  down 
stairs,  you  say.  How  long  after  you  went  up  ?  " 

"  Troth,  sir,  I  could  n't  tell  ;  but  Molly  says— 

* '  Never  mind  what  Molly  says.  You  did  n'  t  see  her 
go  down  ?  ' ' 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Nor  see  her  come  back  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Nor  see  her  this  morning  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  how  could  I  when  she  's  gone  ?  " 

'  *  But  you  did  see,  last  night,  that  she  seemed  to  be 
suffering  with  toothache  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  well ;  now  tell  me  how  and  when  you  first 
became  acquainted  with  the  fact  of  Mr.  Leavenworth's 
death." 

But  her  replies  to  this  question,  while  over-garrulous, 
contained  but  little  information  ;  and  seeing  this,  the 
coroner  was  on  the  point  of  dismissing  her,  when  the 
little  juror,  remembering  an  admission  she  had  made,  of 
having  seen  Miss  Kleanore  Leavenworth  coming  out  of 
the  library  door  a  few  minutes  after  Mr.  L,eavenworth's 
body  had  been  carried  into  the  next  room,  asked  if 
her  mistress  had  anything  in  her  hand  at  the  time. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir.  Faith  !  "  she  suddenly  ex 
claimed,  "  I  believe  she  did  have  a  piece  of  paper.  I 
recollect,  now,  seeing  her  put  it  in  her  pocket." 

The  next  witness  was  Molly,  the  upstairs  girl. 

Molly  O' Flanagan,  as  she  called  herself,  was  a  rosy- 
cheeked,  black-haired,  pert  girl  of  about  eighteen,  who 


4O  The  Leavenworth  Case 

under  ordinary  circumstances  would  have  found  herself 
able  to  answer,  with  a  due  degree  of  smartness,  any 
question  which  might  have  been  addressed  to  her.  But 
fright  will  sometimes  cower  the  stoutest  heart,  and 
Molly,  standing  before  the  coroner  at  this  juncture, 
presented  anything  but  a  reckless  appearance,  her 
naturally  rosy  cheeks  blanching  at  the  first  word  ad 
dressed  to  her,  and  her  head  falling  forward  on  her 
breast  in  a  confusion  too  genuine  to  be  dissembled  and 
too  transparent  to  be  misunderstood. 

As  her  testimony  related  mostly  to  Hannah,  and  what 
she  knew  of  her,  and  her  remarkable  disappearance,  I 
shall  confine  myself  to  a  mere  synopsis  of  it. 

As  far  as  she,  Molly,  knew,  Hannah  was  what  she 
had  given  herself  out  to  be,  an  uneducated  girl  of  Irish 
extraction,  who  had  come  from  the  country  to  act  as 
lady's-maid  and  seamstress  to  the  two  Misses  Leaven- 
worth.  She  had  been  in  the  family  for  some  time  ;  be 
fore  Molly  herself,  in  fact  ;  and  though  by  nature 
remarkably  reticent,  refusing  to  tell  anything  about 
herself  or  her  past  life,  she  had  managed  to  become  a 
great  favorite  with  all  in  the  house.  But  she  was  of  a 
melancholy  nature  and  fond  of  brooding,  often  getting 
up  nights  to  sit  and  think  in  the  dark  :  "  as  if  she  was 
a  lady  !  "  exclaimed  Molly. 

This  habit  being  a  singular  one  for  a  girl  in  her  sta 
tion,  an  attempt  was  made  to  win  from  the  witness 
further  particulars  in  regard  to  it.  But  Molly,  with  a 
toss  of  her  head,  confined  herself  to  the  one  statement. 
She  used  to  get  up  nights  and  sit  in  the  window,  and 
that  was  all  she  knew  about  it. 

Drawn  away  from  this  topic,  during  the  consideration 
of  which,  a  little  of  the  sharpness  of  Molly's  disposition 
had  asserted  itself,  she  went  on  to  state,  in  connection 


The  Problem  41 

with  the  events  of  the  past  night,  that  Hannah  had 
been  ill  for  two  days  or  more  with  a  swelled  face  ;  that 
it  grew  so  bad  after  they  had  gone  upstairs,  the  night 
before,  that  she  got  out  of  bed,  and  dressing  herself — 
Molly  was  closely  questioned  here,  but  insisted  upon 
the  fact  that  Hannah  had  fully  dressed  herselL^en  to 
arranging  her  collar  and  ribbon — lighted  a  candle,*and 
made  known  her  intention  of  going  down  to  Miss  Klea- 
nore  for  aid. 

"  Why  Miss  Bleanore  ?  "  a  juryman  here  asked. 

"  Oh,  she  is  the  one  who  always  gives  out  medi 
cines  and  such  like  to  the  servants." 

Urged  to  proceed,  she  went  on  to  state  that  she  had 
already  told  all  she  knew  about  it.  Hannah  did  not 
come  back,  nor  was  she  to  be  found  in  the  house  at 
breakfast  time. 

"  You  say  she  took  a  candle  with  her,'*  said  the 
coroner.  "  Was  it  in  a  candlestick  ?  " 

"No,  sir;  loose  like." 

"  Why  did  she  take  a  candle  ?  Does  not  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth  burn  gas  in  his  halls  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  but  we  put  the  gas  out  as  we  go  up,  and 
Hannah  is  afraid  of  the  dark." 

"  If  she  took  a  candle,  it  must  be  lying  somewhere 
about  the  house.  Now,  has  anybody  seen  a  stray 
candle?" 

"  Not  as  I  knows  on,  sir." 

"  Is  this  it?  "  exclaimed  a  voice  over  my  shoulder. 

It  was  Mr.  Gryce,  and  he  was  holding  up  into  view 
a  half-burned  paraffine  candle. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  lor',  where  did  you  find  it  ?  " 

"  In  the  grass  of  the  carriage  yard,  half-way  from  the 
kitchen  door  to  the  street,"  he  quietly  returned. 

Sensation.     A  clue,  then,  at  last!    Something  had 


42  The  Leavenworth  Case 

been  found  which  seemed  to  connect  this  mysterious 
murder  with  the  outside  world.  Instantly  the  back 
door  assumed  the  chief  position  of  interest.  The 
candle  found  lying  in  the  yard  seemed  to  prove,  not 
only  that  Hannah  had  left  the  house  shortly  after  de 
scending  from  her  room,  but  had  left  it  by  the  back 
door,  which  we  now  remembered  was  only  a  few  steps 
from  the  iron  gate  opening  into  the  side  street.  But 
Thomas,  being  recalled,  repeated  his  assertion  that  not 
only  the  back-door,  but  all  the  lower  windows  of  the 
house,  had  been  found  by  him  securely  locked  and 
bolted  at  six  o'clock  that  morning.  Inevitable  con 
clusion — some  one  had  locked  and  bolted  them  after  the 
girl.  Who?  Alas,  that  had  now  become  the  very 
serious  and  momentous  question. 


V 

EXPERT  TESTIMONY 


**  And  often-times,  to  win  us  to  our  harm, 
The  instruments  of  darkness  tell  us  truths; 
Win  us  with  honest  trifles,  to  betray  us 
In  deepest  consequence." 

Macbeth. 

IN  the  midst  of  the  universal  gloom  thus  awakened 
there  came  a  sharp  ring  at  the  bell.  Instantly  all 
eyes  turned  toward  the  parlor  door,  just  as  it  slowly 
opened,  and  the  officer  who  had  been  sent  off  so  mys 
teriously  by  the  coroner  an  hour  before  entered,  in 
company  with  a  young  man,  whose  sleek  appearance, 
intelligent  eye,  and  general  air  of  trustworthiness, 
seemed  to  proclaim  him  to  be,  what  in  fact  he  was, 
the  confidential  clerk  of  a  responsible  mercantile 
house. 

Advancing  without  apparent  embarrassment,  though 
each  and  every  eye  in  the  room  was  fixed  upon  him 
with  lively  curiosity,  he  made  a  slight  bow  to  the 
coroner. 

"  You  have  sent  for  a  man  from  Bohn  &  Co.,"  he 
said. 

Strong  and  immediate  excitement.  Bohn  &  Co.  was 
the  well-known  pistol  and  ammunition  store  of  — — - 
Broadway. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  returned  the  coroner.  "  We  have  here 
a  bullet,  which  we  must  ask  you  to  examine.  You  are 

43 


44  The  Leavenworth  Case 

fully  acquainted  with  all  matters  connected  with  your 
business  ?  ' ' 

The  young  man,  merely  elevating  an  expressive  eye 
brow,  took  the  bullet  carelessly  in  his  hand. 

"  Can  you  tell  us  from  what  make  of  pistol  that  was 
delivered  ?  " 

The  young  man  rolled  it  slowly  round  between  his 
thumb  and  forefinger,  and  then  laid  it  down.  "It  is 
a  No.  32  ball,  usually  sold  with  the  small  pistol  made 
by  Smith  &  Wesson. " 

"  A  small  pistol  !  "  exclaimed  the  butler,  jumping  up 
from  his  seat.  "  Master  used  to  keep  a  little  pistol  in 
his  stand  drawer.  I  have  often  seen  it.  We  all  knew 
about  it.'* 

Great  and  irrepressible  excitement,  especially  among 
the  servants.  <l  That 's  so!  "  I  heard  a  heavy  voice  ex 
claim.  "  I  saw  it  once  myself — master  was  cleaning  it." 
It  was  the  cook  who  spoke. 

* '  In  his  stand  drawer  ?  ' '  the  coroner  inquired. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  at  the  head  of  his  bed." 

An  officer  was  sent  to  examine  the  stand  drawer.  In 
a  few  moments  he  returned,  bringing  a  small  pistol 
which  he  laid  down  on  the  coroner's  table,  saying, 
"  Here  it  is." 

Immediately,  every  one  sprang  to  his  feet,  but  the 
coroner,  handing  it  over  to  the  clerk  from  Bonn's,  in 
quired  if  that  was  the  make  before  mentioned.  With 
out  hesitation  he  replied,  "  Yes,  Smith  &  Wesson;  you 
can  see  for  yourself,"  and  he  proceeded  to  examine  it. 

"  Where  did  you  find  this  pistol  ?  "  asked  the  coroner 
of  the  officer. 

"  In  the  top  drawer  of  a  shaving  table  standing  near 
the  head  of  Mr.  L,eaven worth's  bed.  It  was  lying  in  a 
velvet  case  together  with  a  box  of  cartridges,  one  of 


The  Problem  45 

which  I  bring  as  a  sample, ' '  and  he  laid  it  down  beside 
the  bullet. 

"  Was  the  drawer  locked  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  but  the  key  was  not  taken  out." 

Interest  had  now  reached  its  climax.  A  universal 
cry  swept  through  the  room,  "  Is  it  loaded  ?  " 

The  coroner,  frowning  on  the  assembly,  with  a  look 
of  great  dignity,  remarked  : 

"  I  was  about  to  ask  that  question  myself,  but  first  I 
must  request  order." 

An  immediate  calm  followed.  Bvery  one  was  tdb 
much  interested  to  interpose  any  obstacle  in  the  way 
of  gratifying  his  curiosity. 

"  Now,  sir  ?  "   exclaimed  the  coroner. 

The  clerk  from  Bonn's,  taking  out  the  cylinder,  held 
it  up.  "  There  are  seven  chambers  here,  and  they  are 
all  loaded." 

A  murmur  of  disappointment  followed  this  assertion. 

"  But,"  he  quietly  added  after  a  momentary  examina 
tion  of  the  face  of  the  cylinder,  "  they  have  not  all  been 
loaded  long.  A  bullet  has  been  recently  shot  from  one 
cf  these  chambers." 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  "  cried  one  of  the  jury. 

"  How  do  I  know?  Sir,"  said  he,  turning  to  the 
coroner,  "  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  examine  the 
condition  of  this  pistol  ?  "  and  he  handed  it  over  to 
that  gentleman.  "  Look  first  at  the  barrel  ;  it  is  clean 
and  bright,  and  shows  no  evidence  of  a  bullet  having 
passed  out  of  it  very  lately  ;  that  is  because  it  has  been 
cleaned.  But  now,  observe  the  face  of  the  cylinder: 
what  do  you  see  there  ?  " 

"  I  see  a  faint  line  of  smut  near  one  of  the  chambers." 

"  Just  so  ;  show  it  to  the  gentlemen." 

It  was  immediately  handed  down. 


46  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  That  faint  line  of  smut,  on  the  edge  of  one  of  the 
chambers,  is  the  telltale,  sirs.  A  bullet  passing  out 
always  leaves  smut  behind.  The  man  who  fired  this, 
remembering  the  fact,  cleaned  the  barrel,  but  forgot 
the  cylinder."  And  stepping  aside  he  folded  his 
arms. 

"Jerusalem!"  spoke  out  a  rough,  hearty  voice, 
"  is  n't  that  wonderful !  "  This  exclamation  came  from 
a  countryman  who  had  stepped  in  from  the  street,  and 
now  stood  agape  in  the  doorway. 

It  was  a  rude  but  not  altogether  unwelcome  inter 
ruption.  A  smile  passed  round  the  room,  and  both 
men  and  women  breathed  more  easily.  Order  being  at 
last  restored,  the  officer  was  requested  to  describe  the 
position  of  the  stand,  and  its  distance  from  the  library 
table. 

"  The  library  table  is  in  one  room,  and  the  stand  in 
another.  To  reach  the  former  from  the  latter,  one 
would  be  obliged  to  cross  Mr.  Leaven  worth's  bed 
room  in  a  diagonal  direction,  pass  through  the  passage 
way  separating  that  one  apartment  from  the  other, 
and " 

"  Wait  a  moment ;  how  does  this  table  stand  in  re 
gard  to  the  door  which  leads  from  the  bedroom  into 
the  hall  ?  " 

"  One  might  enter  that  door,  pass  directly  round  the 
foot  of  the  bed  to  the  stand,  procure  the  pistol,  and 
cross  half-way  over  to  the  passage-way,  without  being 
seen  by  any  one  sitting  or  standing  in  the  library 
beyond." 

"  Holy  Virgin !  "  exclaimed  the  horrified  cook,  throw 
ing  her  apron  over  her  head  as  if  to  shut  out  some 
dreadful  vision.  "  Hannah  niver  would  have  the  pluck 
for  that;  niver,  niver!  "  But  Mr.  Gryce,  laying  a  heavy 


The  Problem  47 

hand  on  the  woman,  forced  her  back  into  her  seat,  re 
proving  and  calming  her  at  the  same  time,  with  a  dex 
terity  marvellous  to  behold.  "  I  beg  your  pardons," 
she  cried  deprecatingly  to  those  around;  "  but  it  niver 
was  Hannah,  niver! " 

The  clerk  from  Bonn's  here  being  dismissed,  those 
assembled  took  the  opportunity  of  making  some  change 
in  their  position,  after  which,  the  name  of  Mr.  Harwell 
was  again  called.  That  person  rose  with  manifest  re 
luctance.  Evidently  the  preceding  testimony  had  either 
upset  some  theory  of  his,  or  indubitabty  strengthened 
some  unwelcome  suspicion. 

"  Mr.  Harwell,"  the  coroner  began,  "  we  are  told  of 
the  existence  of  a  pistol  belonging  to  Mr.  Leavenworth, 
and  upon  searching,  we  discover  it  in  his  room.  Did 
you  know  of  his  possessing  such  an  instrument  ?  " 

"  I  did." 

"  Was  it  a  fact  generally  known  in  the  house  ?  " 

"  So  it  would  seem." 

"  How  was  that  ?  Was  he  in  the  habit  of  leaving  it 
around  where  any  one  could  see  it  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  say;  I  can  only  acquaint  you  with  the 
manner  in  which  I  myself  became  aware  of  its 
existence." 

"  Very  well,  do  so." 

"  We  were  once  talking  about  firearms.  I  have 
some  taste  that  way,  and  have  always  been  anxious  to 
possess  a  pocket-pistol.  Saying  something  of  the  kind 
to  him  one  day,  he  rose  from  his  seat  and,  fetching  me 
this,  showed  it  to  me." 

"  How  long  ago  was  this  ?  " 

"  Some  few  months  since." 

"  He  has  owned  this  pistol,  then,  for  some  time  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 


48  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Is  that  the  only  occasion  upon  which  you  have  evei 
seen  it?" 

"  No,  sir," — the  secretary  blushed — *'  I  have  seen  it 
once  since." 

"When?" 

"  About  three  weeks  ago.'* 

"  Under  what  circumstances  ?  " 

The  secretary  dropped  his  head,  a  certain  drawn 
look  making  itself  suddenly  visible  on  his  countenance. 

"  Will  you  not  excuse  me,  gentlemen  ?  "  he  asked, 
after  a  moment's  hesitation. 

"  It  is  impossible,"  returned  the  coroner. 

His  face  grew  even  more  pallid  and  deprecatory. 
"  I  am  obliged  to  introduce  the  name  of  a  lady,"  he 
hesitatingly  declared. 

"  We  are  very  sorry,"  remarked  the  coroner. 

The  young  man  turned  fiercely  upon  him,  and  I 
could  not  help  wondering  that  I  had  ever  thought  him 
commonplace.  "  Of  Miss  Kleanore  Leavenworth!  "  he 
cried. 

At  that  name,  so  uttered,  every  one  started  but  Mr. 
Gryce  ;  he  was  engaged  in  holding  a  close  and  confi 
dential  confab  with  his  finger-tips,  and  did  not  appear 
to  notice. 

"  Surely  it  is  contrary  to  the  rules  of  decorum  and 
the  respect  we  all  feel  for  the  lady  herself  to  introduce 
her  name  into  this  discussion,"  continued  Mr.  Harwell. 
But  the  coroner  still  insisting  upon  an  answer,  he 
refolded  his  arms  (a  movement  indicative  of  reso 
lution  with  him),  and  began  in  a  low,  forced  tone  to 
say  : 

"It  is  only  this,  gentlemen.  One  afternoon,  about 
three  weeks  since,  I  had  occasion  to  go  to  the  library 
at  an  unusual  hour.  Crossing  over  to  the  mantel-piece 


The  Problem  49 

for  the  purpose  of  procuring  a  penknife  which  I  had 
carelessly  left  there  in  the  morning,  I  heard  a  noise  in 
the  adjoining  room.  Knowing  that  Mr.  Leavenworth 
was  out,  and  supposing  the  ladies  to  be  out  also,  I  took 
the  liberty  of  ascertaining  who  the  intruder  was  ;  when 
what  was  my  astonishment  to  come  upon  Miss  Eleanore 
Leavenworth,  standing  at  the  side  of  her  uncle's  bed, 
with  his  pistol  in  her  hand.  Confused  at  my  indiscre 
tion,  I  attempted  to  escape  without  being  observed;  but 
in  vain,  for  just  as  I  was  crossing  the  threshold,  she 
turned  and,  calling  me  by  name,  requested  me  to  ex 
plain  the  pistol  to  her.  Gentlemen,  in  order  to  do  so, 
I  was  obliged  to  take  it  in  my  hand  ;  and  that,  sirs,  is 
the  only  other  occasion  upon  which  I  ever  saw  or 
handled  the  pistol  of  Mr.  Leavenworth."  Drooping 
his  head,  he  waited  in  indescribable  agitation  for  the 
next  question. 

"  She  asked  you  to  explain  the  pistol  to  her  ;  what 
do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  I  mean,"  he  faintly  continued,  catching  his  breath 
in  a  vain  effort  to  appear  calm,  "  how  to  load,  aim,  and 
fire  it." 

A  flash  of  awakened  feeling  shot  across  the  faces  of 
all  present.  Even  the  coroner  showed  sudden  signs  of 
emotion,  and  sat  staring  at  the  bowed  form  and  pale 
countenance  of  the  man  before  him,  with  a  peculiar 
look  of  surprised  compassion,  which  could  not  fail  of 
producing  its  effect,  not  only  upon  the  young  man  him 
self,  but  upon  all  who  saw  him. 

"  Mr.  Harwell,"  he  at  length  inquired,  "  have  you 
anything  to  add  to  the  statement  you  have  just  made  ?  " 

The  secretary  sadly  shook  his  head. 

"  Mr.  Gryce,"  I  here  whispered,  clutching  that  per 
son  by  the  arm  and  dragging  him  down  to  my  side  ; 


50  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  assure  me,  I  entreat  you—'*  but  he  would  not  let  me 
finish. 

1 '  The  coroner  is  about  to  ask  for  the  young  ladies, ' ' 
he  quickly  interposed.  "  If  you  desire  to  fulfil  your 
duty  towards  them,  be  ready,  that  's  all." 

Fulfil  my  duty  !  The  simple  words  recalled  me  to 
myself.  What  had  I  been  thinking  of  ;  was  I  mad  ? 
With  nothing  more  terrible  in  mind  than  a  tender 
picture  of  the  lovely  cousins  bowed  in  anguish  over  the 
remains  of  one  who  had  been  as  dear  as  a  father  to 
them,  I  slowly  rose,  and  upon  demand  being  made  for 
Miss  Mary  and  Miss  Eleanore  Leavenworth,  advanced 
and  said  that,  as  a  friend  of  the  family  —  a  petty  lie, 
which  I  hope  will  not  be  laid  up  against  me — I  begged 
the  privilege  of  going  for  the  ladies  and  escorting  them 
down. 

Instantly  a  dozen  ej^es  flashed  upon  me,  and  I  ex 
perienced  the  embarrassment  of  one  who,  by  some  un 
expected  word  or  action,  has  drawn  upon  himself  the 
concentrated  attention  of  a  v/hole  room. 

But  the  permission  sought  being  almost  immediately 
accorded,  I  was  speedily  enabled  to  withdraw  from  my 
rather  trying  position,  finding  myself,  almost  before  I 
knew  it,  in  the  hall,  my  face  aflame,  my  heart  beating 
with  excitement,  and  these  words  of  Mr.  Gryce  ringing 
in  my  ears  :  ' '  Third  floor,  rear  room,  first  door  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs.  You  will  find  the  young  ladies 
expecting  you." 


VI 

SIDE  -LIGHTS 

'*  Oh  !  she  has  beauty  might  ensnare 
A  conqueror's  soul,  and  make  him  leave  his  crown 
At  random,  to  be  scuffled  for  by  slaves." 

OTWAY. 

HPHIRD  floor,  rear  room,  first  door  at  the  head  of  the 
1  stairs  !  What  was  I  about  to  encounter  there  ? 

Mounting  the  lower  flight,  and  shuddering  by  the 
library  wall,  which  to  my  troubled  fancy  seemed  written 
all  over  with  horrible  suggestions,  I  took  my  way 
slowly  up-stairs,  revolving  in  my  mind  many  things, 
among  which  an  admonition  uttered  long  ago  by  my 
mother  occupied  a  prominent  place. 

"  My  son,  remember  that  a  woman  with  a  secret  may 
be  a  fascinating  study,  but  she  can  never  be  a  safe,  nor 
even  satisfactory,  companion." 

A  wise  saw,  no  doubt,  but  totally  inapplicable  to  the 
present  situation  ;  yet  it  continued  to  haunt  me  till  the 
sight  of  the  door  to  which  I  had  been  directed  put 
every  other  thought  to  flight  save  that  I  was  about  to 
meet  the  stricken  nieces  of  a  brutally  murdered  man. 

Pausing  only  long  enough  on  the  threshold  to  com 
pose  myself  for  the  interview,  I  lifted  my  hand  to 
knock,  when  a  rich,  clear  voice  rose  from  within,  and  I 
heard  distinctly  uttered  these  astounding  words  :  "  I 
do  not  accuse  your  hand,  though  I  know  of  none  other 
which  would  or  could  have  done  this  deed  ;  but  your 

52 


52  The  Leavenworth  Case 

heart,  your  head,  your  will,  these  I  do  and  must  accuse, 
in  my  secret  mind  at  least ;  and  it  is  well  that  you 
should  know  it ! " 

Struck  with  horror,  I  staggered  back,  my  hands  to 
my  ears,  when  a  touch  fell  on  my  arm,  and  turning,  I 
saw  Mr.  Gryce  standing  close  beside  me,  with  his  finger 
on  his  lip,  and  the  last  flickering  shadow  of  a  ftying 
emotion  fading  from  his  steady,  almost  compassionate 
countenance. 

.  *'  Come,  come,"  he  exclaimed;  "  I  see  you  don't  be 
gin  to  know  what  kind  of  a  world  you  are  living  in. 
Rouse  yourself;  remember  they  are  waiting  down 
below." 

"  But  who  is  it  ?    Who  was  it  that  spoke  ?  " 

:<  That  we  shall  soon  see."  And  without  waiting  to 
meet,  much  less  answer,  my  appealing  look,  he  struck 
his  hand  against  the  door,  and  flung  it  wide  open. 

Instantly  a  flush  of  lovely  color  burst  upon  us.  Blue 
curtains,  blue  carpets,  blue  walls.  It  was  like  a  glimpse 
of  heavenly  azure  in  a  spot  where  only  darkness  and 
gloom  were  to  be  expected.  Fascinated  by  the  sight, 
I  stepped  impetuously  forward,  but  instantly  paused 
again,  overcome  and  impressed  by  the  exquisite  picture 
I  saw  before  me. 

Seated  in  an  easy  chair  of  embroidered  satin,  but 
rousing  from  her  half-recumbent  position,  like  one  who 
was  in  the  act  of  launching  a  powerful  invective,  I  be 
held  a  glorious  woman.  Fair,  frail,  proud,  delicate  ; 
looking  like  a  lily  in  the  thick  creamy-tinted  wrapper 
that  alternately  clung  to  and  swayed  from  her  finely 
moulded  figure  ;  with  her  forehead,  crowned  with  the 
palest  of  pale  tresses,  lifted  and  flashing  with  power  , 
one  quivering  hand  clasping  the  arm  of  her  chair,  the 
other  outstretched  and  pointing  toward  some  distant 


The  Problem  53 

object  in  the  room, —  her  whole  appearance  was  so 
startling,  so  extraordinary,  that  I  held  my  breath  in 
surprise,  actually  for  the  moment  doubting  if  it  were  a 
living  woman  I  beheld,  or  some  famous  pythoness  con 
jured  up  from  ancient  story,  to  express  in  one  tremen 
dous  gesture  the  supreme  indignation  of  outraged 
womanhood. 

"  Miss  Mary  Leavenworth, "  whispered  that  ever 
present  voice  over  my  shoulder. 

Ah  !  Mary  Leaven  worth  !  What  a  relief  came  with 
this  name.  This  beautiful  creature,  then,  was  not  the 
Kieanore  who  could  load,  aim,  and  fire  a  pistol.  Turn 
ing  my  head,  I  followed  the  guiding  of  that  uplifted 
*hand,  now  frozen  into  its  place  by  a  new  emotion  :  the 
emotion  of  being  interrupted  in  the  midst  of  a  direful 
and  pregnant  revelation,  and  saw  —  but,  no,  here  de 
scription  fails  me!  Eleanore  Leaven  worth  must  be 
painted  by  other  hands  than  mine.  I  could  sit  half  the 
day  and  dilate  upon  the  subtle  grace,  the  pale  magnifi 
cence,  the  perfection  of  form  and  feature  which  make 
Mary  Leavenworth  the  wonder  of  all  who  behold  her; 
but  Eleanore — I  could  as  soon  paint  the  beatings  of  my 
own  heart.  Beguiling,  terrible,  grand,  pathetic,  that 
face  of  faces  flashed  upon  my  gaze,  and  instantly  the 
moonlight  loveliness  of  her  cousin  faded  from  my 
memory,  and  I  saw  only  Kieanore  —  only  Kieanore 
from  that  moment  on  forever. 

When  my  glance  first  fell  upon  her,  she  was  standing 
by  the  side  of  a  small  table,  with  her  face  turned  toward 
her  cousin,  and  her  two  hands  resting,  the  one  upon 
her  breast,  the  other  on  the  table,  in  an  attitude  of 
antagonism.  But  before  the  sudden  pang  which  shot 
through  me  at  the  sight  of  her  beauty  had  subsided, 
her  head  had  turned,  her  gaze  had  encountered  mine  : 


54  The  Leavenworth  Case 

all  the  horror  of  the  situation  had  burst  upon  her,  and, 
instead  of  a  haughty  woman,  drawn  up  to  receive  and 
trample  upon  the  insinuations  of  another,  I  beheld,  alas! 
a  trembling,  panting  human  creature,  conscious  that  a 
sword  hung  above  her  head,  and  without  a  word  to  say 
why  it  should  not  fall  and  slay  her. 

It  was  a  pitiable  change;  a  heart-rending  revelation! 
I  turned  from  it  as  from  a  confession.  But  just  then, 
her  cousin,  who  had  apparently  regained  her  self- 
possession  at  the  first  betrayal  of  emotion  on  the  part 
of  the  other,  stepped  forward  and,  holding  out  her  hand, 
inquired  : 

"  Is  not  this  Mr.  Raymond  ?  How  kind  of  you,  sir. 
And  you  ?  "  turning  to  Mr.  Gryce  ;  **  you  have  come 
to  tell  us  we  are  wanted  below,  is  it  not  so  ?  ' ' 

It  was  the  voice  I  had  heard  through  the  door,  but 
modulated  to  a  sweet,  winning,  almost  caressing  tone. 

Glancing  hastily  at  Mr.  Gryce,  I  looked  to  see  how 
he  was  affected  by  it.  Kvidently  much,  for  the  bow 
with  which  he  greeted  her  words  was  lower  than  ordi 
nary,  and  the  smile  with  which  he  met  her  earnest  look 
both  deprecatory  and  reassuring.  His  glance  did  not 
embrace  her  cousin,  though  her  eyes  were  fixed  upon 
his  face  with  an  inquiry  in  their  depths  more  agonizing 
than  the  utterance  of  any  cry  would  have  been.  Know 
ing  Mr.  Gryce  as  I  did,  I  felt  that  nothing  could  promise 
worse,  or  be  more  significant,  than  this  transparent  dis 
regard  of  one  who  seemed  to  fill  the  room  with  her 
terror.  And,  struck  with  pity,  I  forgot  that  Mary 
Leavenworth  had  spoken,  forgot  her  very  presence  in 
fact,  and,  turning  hastily  away,  took  one  step  toward 
her  cousin,  when  Mr.  Gryce's  hand  falling  on  my  arm 
stopped  me. 

"  Miss  Leavenworth  speaks/'  said  he. 


The  Problem  55 

Recalled  to  myself,  I  turned  my  back  upon  what  had 
so  interested  me  even  while  it  repelled,  and  forcing 
myself  to  make  some  sort  of  reply  to  the  fair  creature 
before  me,  offered  my  arm  and  led  her  toward  the  door. 

Immediately  the  pale,  proud  countenance  of  Mary 
Leavenworth  softened  almost  to  the  point  of  smiling  ; — 
and  here  let  me  say,  there  never  was  a  woman  who 
could  smile  and  not  smile  like  Mary  Leavenworth. 
Looking  in  my  face,  with  a  frank  and  sweet  appeal  in 
her  eyes,  she  murmured  : 

"  You  are  very  good.  I  do  feel  the  need  of  support ; 
the  occasion  is  so  horrible,  and  my  cousin  there," — 
here  a  little  gleam  of  alarm  flickered  into  her  eyes  — 
"  is  so  very  strange  to-day." 

"  Humph  !  "  thought  I  to  myself;  "  where  is  the 
grand  indignant  pythoness,  with  the  unspeakable  wrath 
and  menace  in  her  countenance,  whom  I  saw  when  I 
first  entered  the  room  ?  ' '  Could  it  be  that  she  was 
trying  to  beguile  us  from  our  conjectures,  by  making 
light  of  her  former  expressions  ?  Or  was  it  possible 
she  deceived  herself  so  far  as  to  believe  us  unimpressed 
by  the  weighty  accusation  overheard  by  us  at  a  moment 
so  critical  ? 

But  Kleanore  Leavenworth,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  the 
detective,  soon  absorbed  all  my  attention.  She  had 
regained  by  this  time  her  self-possession,  also,  but  not 
so  entirely  as  her  cousin.  Her  step  faltered  as  she 
endeavored  to  walk,  and  the  hand  which  rested  on  his 
arm  trembled  like  a  leaf.  "  Would  to  God  I  had  never 
entered  this  house,"  said  I  to  myself.  And  yet,  before 
the  exclamation  was  half  uttered,  I  became  conscious 
of  a  secret  rebellion  against  the  thought  ;  an  emotion, 
shall  I  say,  of  thankfulness  that  it  had  been  myself 
rather  than  another  who  had  been  allowed  to  break  in 


56  The  Leavenworth  Case 

upon  their  privacy,  overhear  that  significant  remark, 
and,  shall  I  acknowledge  it,  follow  Mr.  Gryce  and  the 
trembling,  swaying  figure  of  Kleanore  Leavenworth 
down-stairs.  Not  that  I  felt  the  least  relenting  in  my 
soul  towards  guilt.  Crime  had  never  looked  so  black  ; 
revenge,  selfishness,  hatred,  cupidity,  never  seemed 
more  loathsome;  and  yet  —  but  why  enter  into  the  con 
sideration  of  my  feelings  at  that  time.  They  cannot 
be  of  interest  ;  besides,  who  can  fathom  the  depths  of 
his  own  soul,  or  untangle  for  others  the  secret  cords  of 
revulsion  and  attraction  which  are,  and  ever  have  been, 
a  mystery  and  wonder  to  himself?  Knough  that,  sup 
porting  upon  my  arm  the  half-fainting  form  of  one 
woman,  but  with  my  attention  and  interest  devoted  to 
another,  I  descended  the  stairs  of  the  Leavenworth 
mansion,  and  re-entered  the  dreaded  presence  of  those 
inquisitors  of  the  law  who  had  been  so  impatiently 
awaiting  us. 

As  I  once  more  crossed  that  threshold,  and  faced  the 
eager  countenances  of  those  I  had  left  so  short  a  time 
before,  I  felt  as  if  ages  had  elapsed  in  the  interval;  so 
much  can  be  experienced  by  the  human  soul  in  the 
short  space  of  a  few  over- weighted  moments. 


vn 

MARY  LEAVBNWORTH 

*  For  this  relief  much  thanks." 

Hamlet. 

HAVE  you  ever  observed  the  effect  of  the  sunlight 
bursting  suddenly  upon  the  earth  from  behind  a 
mass  of  heavily  surcharged  clouds  ?  If  so,  you  can 
have  some  idea  of  the  sensation  produced  in  that  room 
by  the  entrance  of  these  two  beautiful  ladies.  Pos 
sessed  of  a  loveliness  which  would  have  been  con 
spicuous  in  all  places  and  under  all  circumstances, 
Mary,  at  least,  if  not  her  less  striking,  though  by  no 
means  less  interesting  cousin,  could  never  have  entered 
any  assemblage  without  drawing  to  herself  the  wonder 
ing  attention  of  all  present.  But,  heralded  as  here,  by 
the  most  fearful  of  tragedies,  what  could  you  expect 
from  a  collection  of  men  such  as  I  have  already  de 
scribed,  but  overmastering  wonder  and  incredulous 
admiration  ?  Nothing,  perhaps,  and  yet  at  the  first 
murmuring  sound  of  amazement  and  satisfaction,  I  felt 
my  soul  recoil  in  disgust. 

Making  haste  to  seat  my  now  trembling  companion 
in  the  most  retired  spot  I  could  find,  I  looked  around 
for  her  cousin.  But  Kleanore  Leavenworth,  weak  as 
she  had  appeared  in  the  interview  above,  showed  at 
this  moment  neither  hesitation  nor  embarrassment. 

57 


58  The  Leavenworth  Case 

Advancing  upon  the  arm  of  the  detective,  whose  sud 
denly  assumed  air  of  persuasion  in  the  presence  of  the 
jury  was  anything  but  reassuring,  she  stood  for  an  in 
stant  gazing  calmly  upon  the  scene  before  her.  Then 
bowing  to  the  coroner  with  a  grace  and  condescension 
which  seemed  at  once  t:o  place  him  on  the  footing  of  a 
politely  endured  intruder  in  this  home  of  elegance,  she 
took  the  seat  which  her  own  servants  hastened  to  pro 
cure  for  her,  with  an  ease  and  dignity  that  rather  re 
called  the  triumphs  of  the  drawing-roorn  than  the 
self-consciousness  of  a  scene  such  as  that  in  which  we 
found  ourselves.  Palpable  acting,  though  this  was,  it 
was  not  without  its  effect.  Instantly  the  murmurs 
ceased,  the  obtrusive  glances  fell,  and  something  like  a 
forced  respect  made  itself  visible  upon  the  countenances 
of  all  present.  Even  I,  impressed  as  I  had  been  by  her 
very  different  demeanor  in  the  room  above,  experienced 
a  sensation  of  relief ;  and  was  more  than  startled  when, 
upon  turning  to  the  lady  at  my  side,  I  beheld  her  eyes 
riveted  upon  her  cousin  with  an  inquiry  in  their  depths 
that  was  anything  but  encouraging.  Fearful  of  the 
effect  this  look  might  have  upon  those  about  us,  I 
hastily  seized  her  hand  which,  clenched  and  uncon 
scious,  hung  over  the  edge  of  her  chair,  and  was  about 
to  beseech  her  to  have  care,  when  her  name,  called  in 
a  slow,  impressive  way  by  the  coroner,  roused  her  from 
her  abstraction.  Hurriedly  withdrawing  her  gaze 
from  her  cousin,  she  lifted  her  face  to  the  j  ury ,  and  I 
saw  a  gleam  pass  over  it  which  brought  back  my  early 
fancy  of  the  pythoness.  But  it  passed,  and  it  was  with 
an  expression  of  great  modesty  she  settled  herself  to 
respond  to  the  demand  of  the  coroner  and  answer  the 
first  few  opening  inquiries. 

But  what  can  express  the  anxiety  of  that  moment  to 


The  Problem  59 

me  ?  Gentle  as  she  now  appeared,  she  was  capable  of 
great  wrath,  as  I  knew.  Was  she  going  to  reiterate 
her  suspicions  here  ?  Did  she  hate  as  well  as  mistrust 
her  cousin  ?  Would  she  dare  assert  in  this  presence, 
and  before  the  world,  what  she  found  it  so  easy  to 
utter  in  the  privacy  of  her  own  room  and  the  hearing 
of  the  one  person  concerned  ?  Did  she  wish  to  ?  Her 
own  countenance  gave  me  no  clue  to  her  intentions, 
and,  in  my  anxiety,  I  turned  once  more  to  look  at 
Eleanore.  But  she,  in  a  dread  and  apprehension  I  could 
easily  understand,  had  recoiled  at  the  first  intimation 
that  her  cousin  was  to  speak,  and  now  sat  with  her  face 
covered  from  sight,  by  hands  blanched  to  an  almost 
deathly  whiteness. 

The  testimony  of  Mary  Leavenworth  was  short.  After 
some  few  questions,  mostly  referring  to  her  position  in 
the  house  and  her  connection  with  its  deceased  master, 
she  was  asked  to  relate  wrhat  she  knew  of  the  murder  it 
self,  and  of  its  discovery  by  her  cousin  and  the  servants. 

Lifting  up  a  brow  that  seemed  never  to  have  known 
till  now  the  shadow  of  care  or  trouble,  and  a  voice  that, 
whilst  low  and  womanly,  rang  like  a  bell  through  the 
room,  she  replied  : 

"  You  ask  me,  gentlemen,  a  question  which  I  cannot 
answer  of  my  own  personal  knowledge.  I  know  noth 
ing  of  this  murder,  nor  of  its  discovery,  save  what  has 
come  to  me  through  the  lips  of  others." 

My  heart  gave  a  bound  of  relief,  and  I  saw  Eleanore 
Leavenworth's  hands  drop  from  her  brow  like  stone, 
while  a  flickering  gleam  as  of  hope  fled  over  her  face, 
and  then  died  away  like  sunlight  leaving  marble. 

"  For,  strange  as  it  may  seem  to  you,"  Mary  earn 
estly  continued,  the  shadow  of  a  past  horror  revisiting 
her  countenance,  "  I  did  not  enter  the  room  where  my 


60  The  Leavenworth  Case 

ancle  lay.  I  did  not  even  think  of  doing  so  ;  my  only 
impulse  was  to  fly  from  what  was  so  horrible  and  heart 
rending.  But  Eleanore  went  in,  and  she  can  tell 
you " 

"  We  will  question  Miss  Eleanore  Leavenworth 
later,"  interrupted  the  coroner,  but  very  gently  for 
him.  Evidently  the  grace  and  elegance  of  this  beauti 
ful  woman  were  making  their  impression.  "  What  we 
want  to  know  is  what  you  saw.  You  say  you  cannot 
tell  us  of  anything  that  passed  in  the  room  at  the  time 
of  the  discovery  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Only  what  occurred  in  the  hall  ?  " 

"  Nothing  occurred  in  the  hall,"  she  innocently 
remarked. 

"  Did  not  the  servants  pass  in  from  the  hall,  and 
your  cousin  come  out  there  after  her  revival  from  her 
faintingfit?" 

Mary  L,eavenworth's  violet  eyes  opened  wonderingly. 

"  Yes,  sir;  but  that  was  nothing." 

"  You  remember,  however,  her  coming  into  the 
hall?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  With  a  paper  in  her  hand  ?  " 

"  Paper  ?  "  and  she  wheeled  suddenly  and  looked  at 
her  cousin.  "  Did  you  have  a  paper,  Eleanore  ?  " 

The  moment  was  intense.  Eleanore  Leavenworth, 
who  at  the  first  mention  of  the  word  paper  had  started 
perceptibly,  rose  to  her  feet  at  this  naive  appeal,  and 
opening  her  lips,  seemed  about  to  speak,  when  the 
coroner,  with  a  strict  sense  of  what  was  regular,  lifted 
his  hand  with  decision,  and  said  : 

"  You  need  not  ask  your  cousin,  Miss  ;  but  let  us 
hear  what  you  have  to  say  yourself. ' ' 


The  Problem  61 

Immediately,  Eleanore  Leavenworth  sank  back,  a 
pink  spot  breaking  out  on  either  cheek  ;  while  a  slight 
murmur  testified  to  the  disappointment  of  those  in  the 
room,  who  were  more  anxious  to  have  their  curiosity 
gratified  than  the  forms  of  law  adhered  to. 

Satisfied  with  having  done  his  duty,  and  disposed  to 
be  easy  with  so  charming  a  witness,  the  coroner  re 
peated  his  question.  "  Tell  us,  if  you  please,  if  you 
saw  any  such  thing  in  her  hand  ?" 

"  I  ?     Oh,  no,  no  ;  I  saw  nothing." 

Being  now  questioned  in  relation  to  the  events  of  the 
previous  night,  she  had  no  new  light  to  throw  upon 
the  subject.  She  acknowledged  her  uncle  to  have  been 
a  little  reserved  at  dinner,  but  no  more  so  than  at  pre 
vious  times  when  annoyed  by  some  business  anxiety. 

Asked  if  she  had  seen  her  uncle  again  that  evening, 
she  said  no,  that  she  had  been  detained  in  her  room. 
That  the  sight  of  him,  sitting  in  his  seat  at  the  head  of 
the  table,  was  the  very  last  remembrance  she  had  of 
him. 

There  was  something  so  touching,  so  forlorn,  and 
yet  so  unobtrusive,  in  this  simple  recollection  of  hers, 
that  a  look  of  sympathy  passed  slowly  around  the  room. 

I  even  detected  Mr.  Gryce  softening  towards  the 
inkstand.  But  Eleanore  Leavenworth  sat  unmoved. 

"  Was  your  uncle  on  ill  terms  with  any  one  ?  "  was 
now  asked.  ' '  Had  he  valuable  papers  or  secret  sums 
of  money  in  his  possession  ?  " 

To  all  these  inquiries  she  returned  an  equal  negative. 

' '  Has  your  uncle  met  any  stranger  lately,  or  received 
any  important  letter  during  the  last  few  weeks,  which 
might  seem  in  any  way  to  throw  light  upon  this 
mystery  ? ' ' 

There  was  the  slightest  perceptible  hesitation  in  her 


62  The  Leavenworth  Case 

voice  as  she  replied  :  "  No,  not  to  my  knowledge  ;  I 
don't  know  of  any  such."  But  here,  stealing  a  side 
glance  at  Eleanore,  she  evidently  saw  something  that 
reassured  her,  for  she  hastened  to  add  : 

"  I  believe  I  may  go  further  than  that,  and  meet 
your  question  with  a  positive  no.  My  uncle  was  in  the 
habit  of  confiding  in  me,  and  I  should  have  known  if 
anything  of  importance  to  him  had  occurred." 

Questioned  in  regard  to  Hannah,  she  gave  that  per 
son  the  best  of  characters  ;  knew  of  nothing  which 
could  have  led  either  to  her  strange  disappearance,  or 
to  her  connection  with  crime.  Could  not  say  whether 
she  kept  any  company,  or  had  any  visitors ;  only  knew 
that  no  one  with  any  such  pretensions  came  to  the 
house.  Finally,  when  asked  when  she  had  last  seen 
the  pistol  which  Mr.  Leavenworth  always  kept  in  his 
stand  drawer,  she  returned,  not  since  the  day  he  bought 
it ;  Eleanore,  and  not  herself,  having  the  charge  of  her 
uncle's  apartments. 

It  was  the  only  thing  she  had  said  which,  even  to  a 
mind  freighted  like  mine,  would  seem  to  point  to  any 
private  doubt  or  secret  suspicion ;  and  this,  uttered  in 
the  careless  manner  in  which  it  was,  would  have  passed 
without  comment  if  Eleanore.  herself  had  not  directed 
at  that  moment  a  very  muc^  aroused  and  inquiring 
look  upon  the  speaker. 

But  it  was  time  for  the  inquisitive  juror  to  make 
himself  heard  again.  Edging  to  <;he  brink  of  the  chair, 
he  drew  in  his  breath,  with  a  vague  awe  of  Mary's 
beauty,  almost  ludicrous  to  see,  and  asked  if  she  had 
properly  considered  what  she  had  just  said. 

"  I  hope,  sir,  I  consider  all  I  am  called  upon  to  say 
at  such  a  time  as  this,"  was  her  earnest  reply. 

The  little  juror  drew  back,  and  I  looked  to  see  her 


The  Problem  63 

examination  terminate,  when  suddenly  his  ponderous 
colleague  of  the  watch-chain,  catching  the  young  lady's 
eye,  inquired  : 

"  Miss  Leaven  worth,  did  your  uncle  ever  make  a 
will?" 

Instantly  every  man  in  the  room  was  in  arms,  and 
even  she  could  not  prevent  the  slow  blush  of  injured 
pride  from  springing  to  her  cheek.  But  her  answer 
was  given  firmly,  and  without  any  show  of  resentment. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  she  returned  simply. 

"  More  than  one  ?" 

' '  I  never  heard  of  but  one. ' ' 

"  Are  you  acquainted  with  the  contents  of  that 
will?" 

"  I  am.  He  made  no  secret  of  his  intentions  to 
any  one." 

The  juryman  lifted  his  eye-glass  and  looked  at  her. 
Her  grace  was  little  to  him,  or  her  beauty  or  her  ele 
gance.  "  Perhaps,  then,  you  can  tell  me  who  is  the 
one  most  likely  to  be  benefited  by  his  death  ?  " 

The  brutality  of  this  question  was  too  marked  to  pass 
unchallenged.  Not  a  man  in  that  room,  myself  in 
cluded,  but  frowned  with  sudden  disapprobation.  But 
Mary  Leavenworth,  drawing  herself  up,  looked  her 
interlocutor  calmly  in  +he  face,  and  restrained  herself 
to  say  : 

"  I  know  who  would  be  the  greatest  losers  by  it. 
The  children  he  took  to  his  bosom  in  their  helplessness 
and  sorrow  ;  the  young  girls  he  enshrined  with  the 
halo  of  his  love  and  protection,  when  love  and  protec 
tion  were  what  their  immaturity  most  demanded  ;  the 
women  who  looked  to  him  for  guidance  when  child 
hood  and  youth  were  passed  —  these,  sir,  these  are  the 
ones  to  whom  his  death  is  a  loss,  in  comparison  to 


64  The  Leavenworth  Case 

which  all  others  which  may  hereafter  befall  them  must 
ever  seem  trivial  and  unimportant." 

It  was  a  noble  reply  to  the  basest  of  insinuations,  and 
the  juryman  drew  back  rebuked  ;  but  here  another  of 
them,  one  who  had  not  spoken  before,  but  whose  ap 
pearance  was  not  only  superior  to  the  rest,  but  also 
almost  imposing  in  its  gravity,  leaned  from  his  seat 
and  in  a  solemn  voice  said  : 

"  Miss  Leaveuworth,  the  human  mind  cannot  help 
forming  impressions.  Now  have  you,  with  or  without 
reason,  felt  at  any  time  conscious  of  a  suspicion  point 
ing  towards  any  one  person  as  the  murderer  of  your 
uncle?" 

It  was  a  frightful  moment.  To  me  and  to  one  other, 
I  am  sure  it  was  not  only  frightful,  but  agonizing. 
Would  her  courage  fail  ?  would  her  determination  to 
shield  her  cousin  remain  firm  in  the  face  of  duty  and  at 
the  call  of  probity  ?  I  dared  not  hope  it. 

But  Mary  Leavenworth,  rising  to  her  feet,  looked 
judge  and  jury  calmly  in  the  face,  and,  without  raising 
her  voice,  giving  it  an  indescribably  clear  and  sharp 
intonation,  replied  : 

"  No  ;  I  have  neither  suspicion  nor  reason  for  any. 
The  assassin  of  my  uncle  is  not  only  entirely  unknown 
to,  but  completely  unsuspected  by,  me." 

It  was  like  the  removal  of  a  stifling  pressure.  Amid 
a  universal  outgoing  of  the  breath,  Mary  Leavenworth 
stood  aside  and  Eleanore  was  called  in  her  place. 


VIII 

CIRCUMSTANTIAL  EVIDENCE 
M0  dark,  dark,  dark  I" 

AND  now  that  the  interest  was  at  its  height,  that 
the  veil  which  shrouded  this  horrible  tragedy 
seemed  about  to  be  lifted,  if  not  entirely  withdrawn,  I 
felt  a  desire  to  fly  the  scene,  to  leave  the  spot,  to  know 
no  more.  Not  that  I  was  conscious  of  any  particular 
fear  of  this  woman  betraying  herself.  The  cold  steadi 
ness  of  her  now  fixed  and  impassive  countenance  was 
sufficient  warranty  in  itself  against  the  possibility  of 
any  such  catastrophe.  But  if,  indeed,  the  suspicions  of 
her  cousin  were  the  offspring,  not  only  of  hatred,  but 
of  knowledge  ;  if  that  face  of  beauty  was  in  truth  only 
a  mask,  and  Kleanore  L,eavenworth  was  what  the 
words  of  her  cousin,  and  her  own  after  behavior  would 
seem  to  imply,  how  could  I  bear  to  sit  there  and  see 
the  frightful  serpent  of  deceit  and  sin  evolve  itself 
from  the  bosom  of  this  white  rose  !  And  yet,  such  is 
the  fascination  of  uncertainty  that,  although  I  saw 
something  of  my  own  feelings  reflected  in  the  counte 
nances  of  many  about  me,  not  a  man  in  all  that  assem 
blage  showed  any  disposition  to  depart,  I  least  of  all.  ** 
The  coroner,  upon  whom  the  blonde  loveliness  of 
Mary  had  impressed  itself  to  Eleanore's  apparent 
detriment,  was  the  only  one  in  the  room  who  showed 


66  The  Leavenworth  Case 

himself  unaffected  at  this  moment.  Turning  toward 
the  witness  with  a  look  which,  while  respectful,  had  a 
touch  of  austerity  in  it,  he  began  : 

"  You  have  been  an  inmate  of  Mr.  Leavenworth' s  fam 
ily  from  childhood,  they  tell  me,  Miss  Leavenworth  ?  " 

"  From  my  tenth  year,"  was  her  quiet  reply. 

It  was  the  first  time  I  had  heard  her  voice,  arid  it 
surprised  me;  it  was  so  like,  and  yet  so  unlike,  that  of 
her  cousin.  Similar  in  tone,  it  lacked  its  expressive 
ness,  if  I  may  so  speak;  sounding  without  vibration  on 
the  ear,  and  ceasing  without  an  echo. 

"  Since  that  time  you  have  been  treated  like  a 
daughter,  they  tell  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  like  a  daughter,  indeed  ;  he  was  more 
than  a  father  to  both  of  us." 

"  You  and  Miss  Mary  Leavenworth  are  cousins,  1 
believe.  When  did  she  enter  the  family  ?  " 

"  At  the  same  time  I  did.  Our  respective  parents 
were  victims  of  the  same  disaster.  If  it  had  not  been 
for  our  uncle,  we  should  have  been  thrown,  children 
as  we  were,  upon  the  world.  But  he" — here  she 
paused,  her  firm  lips  breaking  into  a  half  tremble  — 
*'  but  he,  in  the  goodness  of  his  heart,  adopted  us  into 
his  family,  and  gave  us  what  we  had  both  lost,  a  father 
and  a  home." 

"  You  say  he  was  a  father  to  you  as  well  as  to  your 
cousin  —  that  he  adopted  you.  Do  you  mean  by  that, 
that  he  not  only  surrounded  you  with  present  luxury, 
but  gave  you  to  understand  that  the  same  should  be 
secured  to  you  after  his  death  ;  in  short,  that  he  in 
tended  to  leave  any  portion  of  his  property  to  you  ?  " 

"  No,  sir;  I  was  given  to  understand,  from  the  first, 
that  his  property  would  be  bequeathed  by  will  to  my 
cousin." 


The  Problem  67 

"  Your  cousin  was  no  more  nearly  related  to  him 
than  yourself,  Miss  Leavenworth  ;  did  he  never  give 
you  any  reason  for  this  evident  partiality  ?  ' ' 

"  None  but  his  pleasure,  sir." 

Her  answers  up  to  this  point  had  been  so  straight 
forward  and  satisfactory  that  a  gradual  confidence 
seemed  to  be  taking  the  place  of  the  rather  uneasy 
doubts  which  had  from  the  first  circled  about  this 
woman's  name  and  person.  But  at  this  admission, 
uttered  as  it  was  in  a  calm,  unimpassioned  voice,  not 
only  the  jury,  but  myself,  who  had  so  much  truer 
reason  for  distrusting  her,  felt  that  actual  suspicion  in 
her  case  must  be  very  much  shaken  before  the  utter 
lack  of  motive  which  this  reply  so  clearly  betokened. 

Meanwhile  the  coroner  continued  :  "  If  your  uncle 
was  as  kind  to  you  as  you  say,  you  must  have  become 
very  much  attached  to  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  her  mouth  taking  a  sudden  determined 
curve. 

*  *  His  death,  then,  must  have  been  a  great  shock  to 
you?" 

"  Very,  very  great." 

'  *  Enough  of  itself  to  make  you  faint  awa3r,  as  they  tell 
me  you  did,  at  the  first  glimpse  you  had  of  his  body  ?  " 

"  Enough,  quite." 

"  And  yet  you  seemed  to  be  prepared  for  it  ?  " 

"  Prepared?" 

(<  The  servants  say  you  were  much  agitated  at  find 
ing  your  uncle  did  not  make  his  appearance  at  the 
breakfast  table." 

"  The  servants  !  "  her  tongue  seemed  to  cleave  to 
the  roof  of  her  mouth  ;  she  could  hardly  speak. 

' '  That  when  you  returned  from  his  room  you  were 
very  pale." 


68  The  Leavenworth  Case 

Was  she  beginning  to  realize  that  there  was  some 
doubt,  if  not  actual  suspicion,  in  the  mind  of  the  man 
who  could  assail  her  with  questions  like  these  ?  I  had 
not  seen  her  so  agitated  since  that  one  memorable 
instant  up  in  her  room.  But  her  mistrust,  if  she  felt 
any,  did  not  long  betray  itself.  Calming  herself  by  a 
great  effort,  she  replied,  with  a  quiet  gesture — 

"  That  is  not  so  strange.  My  uncle  was  a  very 
methodical  man  ;  the  least  change  in  his  habits  would 
be  likely  to  awaken  our  apprehensions." 

"  You  were  alarmed,  then  ?  " 

"  To  a  certain  extent  I  was." 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  who  is  in  the  habit  of  overseeing 
the  regulation  of  your  uncle's  private  apartments  ?  " 

"  I  am,  sir." 

"  You  are  doubtless,  then,  acquainted  with  a  certain 
stand  in  his  room  containing  a  drawer  ?  ' ' 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  How  long  is  it  since  you  had  occasion  to  go  to 
this  drawer  ?  ' ' 

"  Yesterday,"  visibly  trembling  at  the  admission. 

"At  what  time?" 

"  Near  noon,  I  should  judge." 

"  Was  the  pistol  he  was  accustomed  to  keep  there  in 
its  place  at  the  time  ?  ' ' 

"  I  presume  so;  I  did  not  observe." 

"  Did  you  turn  the  key  upon  closing  the  drawer  ?  " 

"I  did." 

"Take  it  out?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  that  pistol,  as  you  have  per 
haps  observed,  lies  on  the  table  before  you.  Will  you 
look  at  it  ?  "  And  lifting  it  up  into  view,  he  held  it 
towards  her. 


The  Problem  69 

If  he  had  meant  to  startle  her  by  the  sudden  action, 
he  amply  succeeded.  At  the  first  sight  of  the  murder 
ous  weapon  she  shrank  back,  and  a  horrified,  but 
quickly  suppressed  shriek,  burst  from  her  lips.  "  Oh, 
no,  no  !"  she  moaned,  flinging  out  her  hands  before 
her. 

' '  I  must  insist  upon  your  looking  at  it,  Miss  I^eaven- 
worth,"  pursued  the  coroner.  "  When  it  was  found 
just  now,  all  the  chambers  were  loaded." 

Instantly  the  agonized  look  left  her  countenance. 
"  Oh,  then—"  She  did  not  finish,  but  put  out  her 
hand  for  the  weapon. 

But  the  coroner,  looking  at  her  steadily,  continued  : 
"  It  has  been  lately  fired  off,  for  all  that.  The  hand 
that  cleaned  the  barrel  forgot  the  cartridge-chamber, 
Miss  L/eavenworth. ' ' 

She  did  not  shriek  again,  but  a  hopeless,  helpless 
look  slowly  settled  over  her  face,  and  she  seemed  about 
to  sink  ;  but  like  a  flash  the  reaction  came,  and  lifting 
her  head  with  a  steady,  grand  action  I  have  never  seen 
equalled,  she  exclaimed,  "  Very  well,  what  then  ?  " 

The  coroner  laid  the  pistol  down  ;  men  and  women 
glanced  at  each  other  ;  every  one  seemed  to  hesitate  to 
proceed.  I  heard  a  tremulous  sigh  at  my  side,  and, 
turning,  beheld  Mary  I^eavenworth  staring  at  her  cou 
sin  with  a  startled  flush  on  her  cheek,  as  if  she  began 
to  recognize  that  the  public,  as  well  as  herself,  detected 
something  in  this  Voman,  calling  for  explanation. 

At  last  the  coroner  summoned  up  courage  to  con 
tinue. 

'  You  ask  me,  Miss  Leavenworth,  upon  the  evidence 
given,  what  then  ?  Your  question  obliges  me  to  say 
that  no  burglar,  no  hired  assassin,  would  have  used 
this  pistol  for  a  murderous  purpose,  and  then  taken  the 


70  The  Leavenworth  Case 

pains,  not  only  to  clean  it,  but  to  reload  it,  and  lock  it 
up  again  in  the  drawer  from  which  he  had  taken  it." 

She  did  not  reply  to  this  ;  but  I  saw  Mr.  Gryce  make 
a  note  of  it  with  that  peculiar  emphatic  nod  of  his. 

"  Nor,"  he  went  on,  even  more  gravely,  "  would  it 
be  possible  for  any  one  who  was  not  accustomed  to  pass 
in  and  out  of  Mr.  L-avenworth's  room  at  all  hours,  to 
enter  his  door  so  late  at  night,  procure  this  pistol  from 
its  place  of  concealment,  traverse  his  apartment,  and 
advance  as  closely  upon  him  as  the  facts  show  to  have 
been  necessary,  without  causing  him  at  least  to  turn 
his  head  to  one  side ;  which,  in  consideration  of  the 
doctor's  testimony,  we  cannot  believe  he  did." 

It  was  a  frightful  suggestion,  and  we  looked  to  see 
Kleanore  Leavenworth  recoil.  But  that  expression  of 
outraged  feeling  was  left  for  her  cousin  to  exhibit. 
Starting  indignantly  from  her  seat,  Mary  cast  one  hur 
ried  glance  around  her,  and  opened  her  lips  to  speak; 
but  Kleanore,  slightly  turning,  motioned  her  to  have 
patience,  and  replied  in  a  cold  and  calculating  voice  : 
"  You  are  not  sure,  sir,  that  this  was  done.  If  my 
uncle,  for  some  purpose  of  his  own,  had  fired  the  pistol 
off  yesterday,  let  us  say — which  is  surely  possible,  if  not 
probable  —  the  like  results  would  be  observed,  and  the 
same  conclusions  drawn." 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,"  the  coroner  went  on,  "  the 
ball  has  been  extracted  from  your  uncle's  head!  " 

"Ah!" 

"  It  corresponds  with  those  in  the  cartridges  found  in 
his  stand  drawer,  and  is  of  the  number  used  with  this 
pistol." 

Her  head  fell  forward  on  her  hands;  her  eyes  sought 
the  floor;  her  whole  attitude  expressed  disheartenment, 
Seeing  it,  the  coroner  grew  still  more  grave. 


The  Problem  71 

"  Miss  Leaven  worth,"  said  he,  "  I  have  now  some 
questions  to  put  you  concerning  last  night.  Where 
did  you  spend  the  evening  ?  " 

"  Alone,  in  my  own  room." 

"  You,  however,  saw  your  uncle  or  your  cousin 
during  the  course  of  it  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  saw  no  one  after  leaving  the  dinner  table 
—  except  Thomas,"  she  added,  after  a  moment's  pause. 

"  And  how  came  you  to  see  him  ?  " 

"  He  came  to  bring  me  the  card  of  a  gentleman  who 
called." 

"  May  I  ask  the  name  of  the  gentleman  ?  " 

"  The  name  on  the  card  was  Mr.  L,e  Roy  Robbins." 

The  matter  seemed  trivial ;  but  the  sudden  start  given 
by  the  lady  at  my  side  made  me  remember  it. 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  when  seated  in  your  room,  are 
you  in  the  habit  of  leaving  your  door  open  ?  " 

A  startled  look  at  this,  quickly  suppressed.  "  Not  in 
the  habit;  no,  sir." 

"  Why  did  you  leave  it  open  last  night  ?  " 

"  I  was  feeling  warm." 

"  No  other  reason  ?  " 

"  I  can  give  no  other." 

"  When  did  you  close  it  ?  " 

11  Upon  retiring." 

"  Was  that  before  or  after  the  servants  went  up  ?  " 

"After." 

* '  Did  you  hear  Mr.  Harwell  when  he  left  the  library 
and  ascended  to  his  room  ?  " 

;'Idid,  sir." 

"  How  much  longer  did  you  leave  your  door  open 
after  that?" 

"  I — I — a  few  minutes — a — I  cannot  say,"  she  added, 
hurriedly. 


72  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"Cannot  say?    Why?     Do  you  forget  ?" 

"  I  forget  just  how  long  after  Mr.  Harwell  came  up 
I  closed  it." 

"  Was  it  more  than  ten  minutes  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  More  than  twenty  ?  " 

"  Perhaps."  How  pale  her  face  was,  and  how  she 
trembled ! 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  according  to  evidence,  jTour 
uncle  came  to  his  death  not  very  long  after  Mr.  Har 
well  left  him.  If  your  door  was  open,  you  ought  to 
have  heard  if  any  one  went  to  his  room,  or  any  pistol 
shot  was  fired.  Now,  did  you  hear  anything  ?  " 

"  I  heard  no  confusion  ;  no,  sir." 

' '  Did  you  hear  anything  ?  ' ' 

"  Nor  any  pistol  shot." 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  excuse  my  persistence,  but  did 
you  hear  anything  ?  " 

"  I  heard  a  door  close." 

"What  door?" 

"The  library  door." 

"When?" 

"  I  do  not  know."  She  clasped  her  hands  hysteri 
cally.  "  I  cannot  say.  Why  do  you  ask  me  so  many 
questions?  " 

I  leaped  to  my  feet ;  she  was  swaying,  almost  faint 
ing.  But  before  I  could  reach  her,  she  had  drawn 
herself  up  again,  and  resumed  her  former  demeanor. 
"  Excuse  me,"  said  she;  "  I  am  not  myself  this  morn 
ing.  I  beg  your  pardon,"  and  she  turned  steadily  to 
the  coroner.  "  What  was  it  you  asked  ?  " 

"  I  asked,"  and  his  voice  grew  thin  and  high, — evi 
dently  her  manner  was  beginning  to  tell  against  her,— 
"  when  it  was  you  heard  the  library  door  shut  ?  " 


The  Problem  73 

"  I  cannot  fix  the  precise  time,  but  it  was  after  Mr. 
Harwell  came  up,  and  before  I  closed  my  own." 

"  And  you  heard  no  pistol  shot  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

The  coroner  cast  a  quick  look  at  the  jury,  who  almost 
to  a  man  glanced  aside  as  he  did  so. 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  we  are  told  that  Hannah,  one 
of  the  servants,  started  for  your  room  late  last  night 
after  some  medicine.  Did  she  come  there  ?  ' ' 

"  No,  sir." 

* '  When  did  you  first  learn  of  her  remarkable  disap 
pearance  from  this  house  during  the  night  ?  " 

'  *  This  morning  before  breakfast.  Molly  met  me  in 
the  hall,  and  asked  how  Hannah  was.  I  thought  the 
inquiry  a  strange  one,  and  naturally  questioned  her.  A 
moment's  talk  made  the  conclusion  plain  that  the  girl 
was  gone." 

"  What  did  you  think  when  you  became  assured  of 
this  fact  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  know  what  to  think." 

"  No  suspicion  of  foul  play  crossed  your  mind  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  You  did  not  connect  the  fact  with  that  of  your 
uncle's  murder?  " 

"  I  did  not  know  of  this  murder  then." 

"  And  afterwards?" 

"  Oh,  some  thought  of  the  possibility  of  her  knowing 
something  about  it  may  have  crossed  my  mind;  I  can 
not  say." 

' '  Can  you  tell  us  anything  of  this  girl's  past  history  ? ' ' 

"  I  can  tell  you  no  more  in  regard  to  it  than  my 
cousin  has  done." 

"  Do  not  know  what  made  her  sad  at  night  ?  " 

Her  cheek  flushed  angrily  ;  was  it  at  his  tone,  or  at 


74  The  Leavenworth  Case 

the  question  itself?     "  No,  sir  !  she  never  confided  her 
secrets  to  my  keeping." 

"  Then  you  cannot  tell  us  where  she  would  be  likely 
to  go  upon  leaving  this  house  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  we  are  obliged  to  put  another 
question  to  you.  We  are  told  it  was  by  your  order 
your  uncle's  body  was  removed  from  where  it  was 
found,  into  the  next  room." 

She  bowed  her  head. 

"  Did  n't  you  know  it  to  be  improper  for  you  or  any 
one  else  to  disturb  the  body  of  a  person  found  dead, 
except  in  the  presence  and  under  the  authority  of  the 
proper  officer?  " 

1 '  I  did  not  consult  my  knowledge,  sir,  in  regard  to 
the  subject:  only  my  feelings." 

'  Then  I  suppose  it  was  your  feelings  which  prompted 
you  to  remain  standing  by  the  table  at  which  he  was 
murdered,  instead  of  following  the  body  in  and  seeing 
it  properly  deposited  ?  Or  perhaps,"  he  went  on,  with 
relentless  sarcasm,  "you  were  too  much  interested,  just 
then,  in  the  piece  of  paper  you  took  away,  to  think 
much  of  the  proprieties  of  the  occasion  ?  ' ' 

"Paper?"  lifting  lier  head  with  determination. 
"  Who  says  I  took  a  piece  of  paper  from  the  table  ?  " 

"  One  witness  has  sworn  to  seeing  you  bend  over 
the  table  upon  which  several  papers  lay  strewn  ;  an 
other,  to  meeting  you  a  few  minutes  later  in  the  hall 
just  as  you  were  putting  a  piece  of  paper  into  your 
pocket.  The  inference  follows,  Miss  Leavenworth." 

This  was  a  home  thrust,  and  we  looked  to  see  some 
show  of  agitation,  but  her  haughty  lip  never  quivered. 

"  You  have  drawn  the  inference,  and  you  must  prove 
the  fact." 


The  Problem  75 

The  answer  was  stateliness  itself,  and  we  were  not 
surprised  to  see  the  coroner  look  a  trifle  baffled  ;  but, 
recovering  himself,  he  said  : 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  I  must  ask  you  again,  whether 
you  did  or  did  not  take  anything  from  that  table  ?  " 

She  folded  her  arms.  "  I  decline  answering  the 
question,"  she  quietly  said. 

"  Pardon  me,"  he  rejoined:  "  it  is  necessary  that  you 
should." 

Her  lip  took  a  still  mere  determined  curve.  "  When 
any  suspicious  paper  is  found  in  my  possession,  it  will 
be  time  enough  then  for  me  to  explain  how  I  came  by 
it." 

This  defiance  seemed  to  quite  stagger  the  coroner. 

' '  Do  you  realize  to  what  this  refusal  is  liable  to  sub 
ject  you  ?  " 

She  dropped  her  head.  "  I  am  afraid  that  I  do;  yes, 
sir." 

Mr.  Gryce  lifted  his  hand,  and  softly  twirled  the 
tassel  of  the  window  curtain. 

"  And  you  still  persist  ?  " 

She  absolutely  disdained  to  reply. 

The  coroner  did  not  press  it  further. 

It  had  now  become  evident  to  all,  that  Eleanore 
Leavenworth  not  only  stood  on  her  defence,  but  was 
perfectly  aware  of  her  position,  and  prepared  to  main 
tain  it.  Even  her  cousin,  who  until  now  had  preserved 
some  sort  of  composure,  began  to  show  signs  of  strong 
and  uncontrollable  agitation,  as  if  she  found  it  one 
thing  to  utter  an  accusation  herself,  and  quite  another  to 
see  it  mirrored  in  the  countenances  of  the  men  about  her. 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,"  the  coroner  continued,  chang 
ing  the  line  of  attack,  "  you  have  always  had  free  access 
to  your  uncle's  apartments,  have  you  not  ?  " 


76  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Might  even  have  entered  his  room  late  at  night, 
crossed  it  and  stood  at  his  side,  without  disturbing  him 
sufficiently  to  cause  him  to  turn  his  head  ?  " 

"  Yes/'  her  hands  pressing  themselves  painfully 
together, 

"  Miss  L,eavenworth,  the  key  to  the  library  door  is 
missing." 

She  made  no  answer. 

"  It  has  been  testified  to,  that  previous  to  the  actual 
discovery  of  the  murder,  you  visited  the  door  of  the 
library  alone.  Will  you  tell  us  if  the  key  was  then  in 
the  lock?" 

"  It  was  not." 

"  Are  you  certain  ?  " 

"  I  am." 

"  Now,  was  there  anything  peculiar  about  this  key, 
either  in  size  or  shape  ?  ' ' 

She  strove  to  repress  the  sudden  terror  which  this 
question  produced,  glanced  carelessly  around  at  the 
group  of  servants  stationed  at  her  back,  and  trembled, 
"  It  was  a  little  different  from  the  others,"  she  finally 
acknowledged. 

"  In  what  respect?" 

"  The  handle  was  broken." 

"  Ah,  gentlemen,  the  handle  was  broken  !  "  empha 
sized  the  coroner,  looking  towards  the  jury. 

Mr.  Gryce  seemed  to  take  this  information  to  himself, 
for  he  gave  another  of  his  quick  nods. 

!<  You  would,  then,  recognize  this  key,  Miss  Leaven- 
worth,  if  you  should  see  it  ?  " 

She  cast  a  startled  look  at  him,  as  if  she  expected  to 
behold  it  in  his  hand;  but,  seeming  to  gather  courage 
at  not  finding  it  produced,  replied  quite  easily  : 


The  Problem  77 

"  I  think  I  should,  sir." 

The  coroner  seemed  satisfied,  and  was  about  to  dis 
miss  the  witness  when  Mr.  Gryce  quietly  advanced  and 
touched  him  on  the  arm.  "  One  moment,"  said  that 
gentleman,  and  stooping,  he  whispered  a  few  words  in 
the  coroner's  ear;  then,  recovering  himself,  stood  with 
his  right  hand  in  his  breast  pocket  and  his  eye  upon 
the  chandelier. 

I  scarcely  dared  to  breathe.  Had  he  repeated  to  the 
coroner  the  words  he  had  inadvertently  overheard  in 
the  hall  above  ?  But  a  glance  at  the  latter 's  face  satis 
fied  me  that  nothing  of  such  importance  had  transpired. 
He  looked  not  only  tired,  but  a  trifle  annoyed. 

"  Miss  L,eavenworth, "  said  he,  turning  again  in  her 
direction;  "  you  have  declared  that  you  did  not  visit 
your  uncle's  room  last  evening.  Do  you  repeat  the 
assertion  ? ' ' 

"  I  do." 

He  glanced  at  Mr.  Gryce,  who  immediately  drew 
from  his  breast  a  handkerchief  curiously  soiled.  "  It 
is  strange,  then,  that  your  handkerchief  should  have 
been  found  this  morning  in  that  room." 

The  girl  uttered  a  cry.  Then,  while  Mary's  face 
hardened  into  a  sort  of  strong  despair,  Kleanore  tight 
ened  her  lips  and  coldly  replied,  "  I  do  not  see  as  it  is 
so  very  strange.  I  was  in  that  room  early  this 
morning." 

"  And  you  dropped  it  then  ?  " 

A  distressed  blush  crossed  her  face  ;  she  did  not  reply. 

"  Soiled  in  this  way  ?  "  he  went  on. 

"  I  know  nothing  about  the  soil.  What  is  it?  let 
me  see." 

"  In  a  moment.  What  we  now  wish,  is  to  know  how 
it  came  to  be  in  your  uncle's  apartment." 


78  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  There  are  many  ways.  I  might  have  left  it  there 
days  ago.  I  have  told  you  I  was  in  the  habit  of  visit 
ing  his  room.  But  first,  let  me  see  if  it  is  my  handker 
chief.  ' '  And  she  held  out  her  hand. 

"  I  presume  so,  as  I  am  told  it  has  your  initials  em 
broidered  in  the  corner,"  he  remarked,  as  Mr.  Gryce 
passed  it  to  her. 

But  she  with  horrified  voice  interrupted  him.  '  *  These 
dirty  spots  !  What  are  they  ?  They  look  like ' ' 

'  *  lyike  what  they  are, ' '  said  the  coroner.  ' '  If  y ou 
have  ever  cleaned  a  pistol,  you  must  know  what  they 
are,  Miss  L,eaven worth." 

She  let  the  handkerchief  fall  convulsively  from  her 
hand,  and  stood  staring  at  it,  lying  before  her  on  the 
floor.  "  I  know  nothing  about  it,  gentlemen,"  she 
said.  "  It  is  my  handkerchief,  but — "  for  some  cause 
she  did  not  finish  her  sentence,  but  again  repeated, 
"  Indeed,  gentlemen,  I  know  nothing  about  it !  " 

This  closed  her  testimony. 

Kate,  the  cook,  was  now  recalled,  and  asked  to  tell 
when  she  last  washed  the  handkerchief  ? 

"  This,  sir  ;  this  handkerchief?  Oh,  some  time  this 
week,  sir,"  throwing  a  deprecatory  glance  at  her 
mistress. 

"  What  day?" 

"  Wzll,  I  wish  I  could  forget,  Miss  Eleanore,  but  I 
can' t.  It  is  the  only  one  like  it  in  the  house.  I  washed 
it  day  before  yesterday." 

"  When  did  you  iron  it  ?  " 

"Yesterday  morning,"  half  choking  over  the 
words. 

' '  And  when  did  you  take  it  to  her  room  ?  ' ' 

The  cook  threw  her  apron  over  her  head.  "  Yester 
day  afternoon,  with  the  rest  of  the  clothes,  j  ust  before 


The  Problem  79 

dinner.  Indade,  I  could  not  help  it,  Miss  Eleanore  ! ' ' 
she  whispered ;  "it  was  the  truth. ' ' 

Eleanore  L,eavenworth  frowned.  This  somewhat  con 
tradictory  evidence  had  very  sensibly  affected  her  ;  and 
when,  a  moment  later,  the  coroner,  having  dismissed 
the  witness,  turned  towards  her,  and  inquired  if  she  had 
anything  further  to  say  in  the  way  of  explanation  or 
otherwise,  she  threw  her  hands  up  almost  spasmodically, 
slowly  shook  her  head  and,  without  word  or  warning, 
fainted  quietly  away  in  her  chair. 

A  commotion,  of  course,  followed,  during  which  I 
noticed  that  Mary  did  not  hasten  to  her  cousin,  but 
left  it  for  Molly  and  Kate  to  do  what  they  could  toward 
her  resuscitation.  In  a  few  moments  this  was  in  so 
far  accomplished  that  they  were  enabled  to  lead  her 
from  the  room.  As  they  did  so,  I  observed  a  tall  man 
rise  and  follow  her  out. 

A  momentary  silence  ensued,  soon  broken,  however, 
by  an  impatient  stir  as  our  little  juryman  rose  and  pro 
posed  that  the  jury  should  now  adjourn  for  the  day. 
This  seeming  to  fall  in  with  the  coroner's  views,  he 
announced  that  the  inquest  would  stand  adjourned  till 
three  o'clock  the  next  day,  when  he  trusted  all  the 
jurors  would  be  present. 

A  general  rush  followed,  that  in  a  few  minutes 
emptied  the  room  of  all  but  Miss  L,eavenworth,  Mr. 
Gryce,  and  myself. 


IX 


A  DISCOVERY 

"  His  rolling  Eies  did  never  rest  in  place, 
But  walkte  each  where  for  feare  of  hid  mischance, 
Holding  a  lattis  still  before  his  Face, 
Through  which  he  still  did  peep  as  forward  he  did  pace." 

Faerie  Queene. 

MISS  LEAVKN  WORTH,  who  appeared  to  have 
lingered  from  a  vague  terror  of  everything  and 
everybody  in  the  house  not  under  her  immediate  ob 
servation,  shrank  from  my  side  the  moment  she  found 
herself  left  comparatively  alone,  and,  retiring  to  a  distant 
corner,  gave  herself  up  to  grief.  Turning  my  attention, 
therefore,  in  the  direction  of  Mr.  Gryce,  I  found  that 
person  busily  engaged  in  counting  his  own  fingers  with 
a  troubled  expression  upon  his  countenance,  which 
may  or  may  not  have  been  the  result  of  that  arduous 
employment.  But,  at  my  approach,  satisfied  perhaps 
that  he  possessed  no  more  than  the  requisite  number, 
he  dropped  his  hands  and  greeted  me  with  a  faint  smile 
which  was,  considering  all  things,  too  suggestive  to  be 
pleasant. 

"  Well,"  said  I,  taking  my  stand  before  him,  "  I 
cannot  blame  you.  You  had  a  right  to  do  as  you 
thought  best;  but  how  had  you  the  heart  ?  Was  she 
not  sufficiently  compromised  without  your  bringing  out 
that  wretched  handkerchief,  which  she  may  or  may  not 
have  dropped  in  that  room,  but  whose  presence  there, 

80 


The  Problem  81 

soiled  though  it  was  with  pistol  grease,  is  certainly  no 
proof  that  she  herself  was  connected  with  this  murder  ?" 

"  Mr.  Raymond,"  he  returned,  "  I  have  been  detailed 
as  police  officer  and  detective  to  look  after  this  case, 
and  I  propose  to  do  it." 

"  Of  course,"  I  hastened  to  reply.  "  I  am  the  last 
man  to  wish  you  to  shirk  your  duty  ;  but  you  cannot 
have  the  temerity  to  declare  that  this  young  and 
tender  creature  can  by  any  possibility  be  considered 
as  at  all  likely  to  be  implicated  in  a  crime  so  monstrous 
and  unnatural.  The  mere  assertion  of  another  wo 
man's  suspicions  on  the  subject  ought  not " 

But  here  Mr.  Gryce  interrupted  me.  "  You  talk 
when  your  attention  should  be  directed  to  more  im 
portant  matters.  That  other  woman,  as  you  are 
pleased  to  designate  the  fairest  ornament  of  New  York 
society,  sits  over  there  in  tears ;  go  and  comfort 
her." 

Booking  at  him  in  amazement,  I  hesitated  to  comply ; 
but,  seeing  he  was  in  earnest,  crossed  to  Mary  Leaven- 
worth  and  sat  down  by  her  side.  She  was  weeping, 
but  in  a  slow,  unconscious  way,  as  if  grief  had  been 
mastered  by  fear.  The  fear  was  too  undisguised  and 
the  grief  too  natural  for  me  to  doubt  the  genuineness 
of  either. 

"  Miss  I^eaven  worth,"  said  I,  "  any  attempt  at  con 
solation  on  the  part  of  a  stranger  must  seem  at  a  time 
like  this  the  most  bitter  of  mockeries ;  but  do  try  and 
consider  that  circumstantial  evidence  is  not  always 
absolute  proof." 

Starting  with  surprise,  she  turned  her  eyes  upon  me 
with  a  slow,  comprehensive  gaze  wonderful  to  see  in 
orbs  so  tender  and  womanly. 

"No,"  she  repeated;  "circumstantial  evidence  is 


82  The  Leavenworth  Case 

not  absolute  proof,  but  Kleanore  does  not  know  this. 
She  is  so  intense  ;  she  cannot  see  but  one  thing  at  a 
time.  She  has  been  running  her  head  into  a  noose, 
and  oh, — "  Pausing,  she  clutched  my  arm  with  a 
passionate  grasp  :  "  Do  you  think  there  is  any  danger  ? 
Will  they — ' '  She  could  not  go  on. 

"  Miss  L,eavenworth, "  I  protested,  with  a  warning 
look  toward  the  detective,  "  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

Like  a  flash,  her  glance  followed  mine,  an  instant 
change  taking  place  in  her  bearing. 

'  Your  cousin  may  be  intense,"  I  went  on,  as  if 
nothing  had  occurred  ;  "  but  I  do  not  know  to  what 
you  refer  when  you  say  she  has  been  running  her  head 
into  a  noose." 

"  I  mean  this,"  she  firmly  returned:  "  that,  wittingly 
or  unwittingly,  she  has  so  parried  and  met  the  ques 
tions  which  have  been  put  to  her  in  this  room  that 
any  one  listening  to  her  would  give  her  the  credit  of 
knowing  more  than  she  ought  to  of  this  horrible  affair. 
She  acts  " — Mary  whispered,  but  not  so  low  but  that 
every  word  could  be  distinctly  heard  in  all  quarters  of 
the  room  — '  *  as  if  she  were  anxious  to  conceal  some 
thing.  But  she  is  not;  I  am  sure  she  is  not.  Kleanore 
and  I  are  not  good  friends;  but  all  the  world  can  never 
make  me  believe  she  has  any  more  knowledge  of  this 
murder  than  I  have.  Won't  somebody  tell  her,  then — 
won't  you  —  that  her  manner  is  a  mistake;  that  it  is 
calculated  to  arouse  suspicion;  that  it  has  already  done 
so  ?  And  oh,  don't  forget  to  add  " — her  voice  sinking 
to  a  decided  whisper  now — "  what  you  have  just  re- 
peated  to  me :  that  circumstantial  evidence  is  not  always 
absolute  proof." 

I  surveyed  her  with  great  astonishment.  What  an 
actress  this  woman  was  ! 


The  Problem  83 

"You  request  me  to  tell  her  this/'  said  I.  "  Would  n't 
it  be  better  for  you  to  speak  to  her  yourself?  " 

*  *  Kleanore  and  I  hold  little  or  no  confidential  com 
munication,  "  she  replied. 

I  could  easily  believe  this,  and  yet  I  was  puzzled. 
Indeed,  there  was  something  incomprehensible  in  her 
whole  manner.  Not  knowing  what  else  to  say,  I  re 
marked,  *  '  That  is  unfortunate.  She  ought  to  be  told  that 
the  straightforward  course  is  the  best  by  all  means." 

Mary  Leavenworth  only  wept.  "  Oh,  why  has  this 
awful  trouble  come  to  me,  who  have  always  been  so 
happy  before  !  " 

* '  Perhaps  for  the  very  reason  that  you  have  always 
been  so  happy. " 

"  It  was  not  enough  for  dear  uncle  to  die  in  this  hor 
rible  manner  ;  but  she,  my  own  cousin,  had  to " 

I  touched  her  arm,  and  the  action  seemed  to  recall 
her  to  herself.  Stopping  short,  she  bit  her  lip. 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,"  I  whispered,  "  you  should 
hope  for  the  best.  Besides,  I  honestly  believe  you  to 
be  disturbing  yourself  unnecessarily.  If  nothing  fresh 
transpires,  a  mere  prevarication  or  so  of  your  cousin's 
will  not  suffice  to  injure  her." 

I  said  this  to  see  if  she  had  any  reason  to  doubt  the 
future.  I  was  amply  rewarded. 

* '  Anything  fresh  ?  How  could  there  be  anything 
fresh,  when  she  is  perfectly  innocent  ?  " 

Suddenly,  a  thought  seemed  to  strike  her.  Wheeling 
round  in  her  seat  till  her  lovely,  perfumed  wrapper 
brushed  my  knee,  she  asked  :  "  Why  did  n't  they  ask 
me  more  questions  ?  I  could  have  told  them  Eleanore 
never  left  her  room  last  night. ' ' 

"You  could?"  What  was  I  to  think  of  this 
woman  ? 


84  The  Leavenworth  Case 

'  Yes;  my  room  is  nearer  the  head  of  the  stairs  than 
hers  ;  if  she  had  passed  my  door,  I  should  have  heard 
her,  don't  you  see  ?  " 

Ah,  that  was  all. 

"  That  does  not  follow,"  I  answered  sadly,  "  Can 
you  give  no  other  reason  ?  " 

"  I  would  say  whatever  was  necessary,"  she 
whispered. 

I  started  back.  Yes,  this  woman  would  lie  now  to 
save  her  cousin;  had  lied  during  the  inquest.  But  then 
I  felt  grateful,  and  now  I  was  simply  horrified. 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,"  said  I,  "  nothing  can  justify 
one  in  violating  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience,  not 
even  the  safety  of  one  we  do  not  altogether  love. ' ' 

* '  No  ?  ' '  she  returned  ;  and  her  lip  took  a  tremulous 
curve,  the  lovely  bosom  heaved,  and  she  softly  looked 
away. 

If  Eleanore's  beauty  had  made  less  of  an  impression 
on  my  fancy,  or  her  frightful  situation  •  awakened  less 
anxiety  in  my  breast,  I  should  have  been  a  lost  man 
from  that  moment. 

"  I  did  not  mean  to  do  anything  very  wrong,"  Miss 
Leavenworth  continued.  "  Do  not  think  too  badly  of 
me." 

"  No,  no,"  said  I;  and  there  is  not  a  man  living  who 
would  not  have  said  the  same  in  my  place. 

What  more  might  have  passed  between  us  on  this 
subject  I  cannot  say,  for  just  then  the  door  opened  and 
a  man  entered  whom  I  recognized  as  the  one  who  had 
followed  Hleanore  Leavenworth  out,  a  short  time 
before. 

"  Mr.  Gryce,"  said  he,  pausing  just  inside  the  door; 
"  a  word  if  you  please." 

The  detective  nodded,  but  did  i  Dt  hasten  towards 


The  Problem  85 

him  ;  instead  of  that,  he  walked  deliberately  away  to 
the  other  end  of  the  room,  where  he  lifted  the  lid  of  an 
inkstand  he  saw  there,  muttered  some  unintelligible 
words  into  it,  and  speedily  shut  it  again.  Immediately 
the  uncanny  fancy  seized  me  that  if  I  should  leap  to 
that  inkstand,  open  it  and  peer  in,  I  should  surprise 
and  capture  the  bit  of  confidence  he  had  intrusted  to  it. 
But  I  restrained  my  foolish  impulse,  and  contented  my 
self  with  noting  the  subdued  look  of  respect  with  which 
the  gaunt  subordinate  watched  the  approach  of  his 
superior. 

"Well?"  inquired  the  latter  as  he  reached  him: 
"  what  now?" 

The  man  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  drew  his  prin 
cipal  through  the  open  door.  Once  in  the  hall  their 
voices  sank  to  a  whisper,  and  as  their  backs  only  were 
visible,  I  turned  to  look  at  my  companion.  She  was 
pale  but  composed. 

"  Has  he  come  from  Kleanore  ?  " 

'  *  I  do  not  know  ;  I  fear  so.  Miss  L,eavenworth, ' '  I 
proceeded,  "  can  it  be  possible  that  your  cousin  has 
anything  in  her  possession  she  desires  to  conceal  ?  ' ' 

"  Then  you  think  she  is  trying  to  conceal  some 
thing  ?" 

"  I  do  not  say  so.  But  there  was  considerable  talk 
about  a  paper " 

11  They  will  never  find  any  paper  or  anything  else 
suspicious  in  Kleanore's  possession,"  Mary  interrupted, 
"  In  the  first  place,  there  was  no  paper  of  importance 
enough  " — I  saw  Mr.  Gryce's  form  suddenly  stiffen — 
"  for  any  one  to  attempt  its  abstraction  and  conceal 
ment." 

' '  Can  you  be  sure  of  that  ?  May  not  your  cousin  be 
acquainted  with  something " 


86  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  There  was  nothing  to  be  acquainted  with,  Mr. 
Raymond.  We  lived  the  most  methodical  and  domestic 
of  lives.  I  cannot  understand,  for  my  part,  why  so 
much  should  be  made  out  of  this.  My  uncle  undoubt 
edly  came  to  his  death  by  the  hand  of  some  intended 
burglar.  That  nothing  was  stolen  from  the  house  is 
no  proof  that  a  burglar  never  entered  it.  As  for  the 
doors  and  windows  being  locked,  will  you  take  the 
word  of  an  Irish  servant  as  infallible  upon  such  an  im 
portant  point  ?  I  cannot.  I  believe  the  assassin  to  be 
one  of  a  gang  who  make  their  living  by  breaking  into 
houses,  and  if  you  cannot  honestly  agree  with  me,  do 
try  and  consider  such  an  explanation  as  possible;  if  not 
for  the  sake  of  the  famii5T  credit,  why  then  " — and  she 
turned  her  face  with  all  its  fair  beauty  upon  mine,  eyes, 
cheeks,  mouth  all  so  exquisite  and  winsome  — * '  why 
then,  for  mine." 

Instantly  Mr.  Gryce  turned  towards  us.  "  Mr.  Ray 
mond,  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  step  this  way  ?  " 

Glad  to  escape  from  my  present  position,  I  hastily 
obeyed. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  "  I  asked. 

' '  We  propose  to  take  you  into  our  confidence, ' '  was 
the  easy  response.  "  Mr.  Raymond,  Mr.  Fobbs." 

I  bowed  to  the  man  I  saw  before  me,  and  stood  un 
easily  waiting.  Anxious  as  I  was  to  know  what  we 
really  had  to  fear,  I  still  intuitively  shrank  from  any 
communication  with  one  whom  I  looked  upon  as  a  spy. 

' '  A  matter  of  some  importance, ' '  resumed  the  detec 
tive.  '  *  It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  remind  you  that 
it  is  in  confidence,  is  it  ?  " 

"No." 

"  I  thought  not.     Mr.  Fobbs  you  may  proceed." 

Instantly  the  whole  appearance  of  the  man  Fobbs 


The  Problem  87 

changed.  Assuming  an  expression  of  lofty  importance, 
he  laid  his  large  hand  outspread  upon  his  heart  and 
commenced. 

"  Detailed  by  Mr.  Gryce  to  watch  the  movements  of 
Miss  Eleanore  Leavenworth,  I  left  this  room  upon  her 
departure  from  it,  and  followed  her  and  the  two  servants 
who  conducted  her  up-stairs  to  her  own  apartment. 
Once  there " 

Mr.  Gryce  interrupted  him.    "  Once  there  ?  where  ?  " 

"  Her  own  room,  sir." 

"  Where  situated  ?" 

"  At  the  head  of  the  stairs." 

"  That  is  not  her  room.     Goon." 

"  Not  her  room  ?  Then  it  was  the  fire  she  was  after  ! " 
he  cried,  clapping  himself  on  the  knee. 

"  The  fire?" 

"  Excuse  me  ;  I  am  ahead  of  my  story.  She  did  not 
appear  to  notice  me  much,  though  I  was  right  behind 
her.  It  was  not  until  she  had  reached  the  door  of  this 
room  —  which  was  not  her  room  !"  he  interpolated 
dramatically, '  *  and  turned  to  dismiss  her  servants,  that 
she  seemed  conscious  of  having  been  followed.  Eying 
me  then  with  an  air  of  great  dignity,  quickly  eclipsed, 
however,  by  an  expression  of  patient  endurance,  she 
walked  in,  leaving  the  door  open  behind  her  in  a  cour 
teous  way  I  cannot  sufficiently  commend." 

I  could  not  help  frowning.  Honest  as  the  man  ap 
peared,  this  was  evidently  anything  but  a  sore  subject 
with  him.  Observing  me  frown,  he  softened  his 
manner. 

"  Not  seeing  any  other  way  of  keeping  her  under  mv 
eye,  except  by  entering  the  room,  I  followed  her  in. 
and  took  a  seat  in  a  remote  corner.  She  flashed  one 
look  at  me  as  I  did  so,  and  commenced  pacing  the  floor 


88  The  Leavenworth  Case 

.tn  a  restless  kind  of  way  I  'm  not  altogether  unused  to. 
At  last  she  stopped  abruptly,  right  in  the  middle  of  the 
room.  *  Get  me  a  glass  of  water  ! '  she  gasped  ;  *  I  "m 
faint  again — quick!  on  the  stand  in  the  corner.'  Now 
in  order  to  get  that  glass  of  water  it  was  necessary  for 
me  to  pass  behind  a  dressing  mirror  that  reached 
almost  to  the  ceiling;  and  I  naturally  hesitated.  B*:it 
she  turned  and  looked  at  me,  and —  Well,  gentlemen,, 
I  think  either  of  you  would  have  hastened  to  do  what 
she  asked  ;  or  at  least  "  —  with  a  doubtful  look  at  Mr. 
Gryce — "  have  given  3^our  two  ears  for  the  privilege, 
even  if  you  did  n't  succumb  to  the  temptation." 

"  Well,  well !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Gryce,  impatiently. 

"  I  am  going  on,"  said  he.  "I  stepped  cut  of  sigkt, 
then,  for  a  moment;  but  it  seemed  long  enough  for  her 
purpose;  for  when  I  emerged,  glass  in  hand,  she  was 
kneeling  at  the  grate  full  five  feet  from  the  spot  where 
she  had  been  standing,  and  was  fumbling  with  the  waist 
of  her  dress  in  a  way  to  convince  me  she  had  something 
concealed  there  which  she  was  anxious  to  dispose  of. 
I  eyed  her  pretty  closely  as  I  handed  her  the  glass  of 
water,  but  she  was  gazing  into  the  grate,  and  did  n't 
appear  to  notice.  Drinking  barely  a  drop,  she  gave  it 
back,  and  in  another  moment  was  holding  out  her 
hands  over  the  fire.  '  Oh,  I  am  so  cold  ! '  she  cried, 
*  so  cold.'  And  I  verily  believe  she  was.  At  any  rate, 
she  shivered  most  naturally.  But  there  were  a  few 
dying  embers  in  the  grate,  and  when  I  saw  her  thrust 
her  hand  again  into  the  folds  of  her  dress  I  became 
distrustful  of  her  intentions  and,  drawing  a  step  nearer, 
looked  over  her  shoulder,  when  I  distinctly  saw  her 
atop  something  into  the  grate  that  clinked  as  it  fell. 
Suspecting  what  it  was,  I  was  about  to  interfere,  when 
she  sprang  to  her  feet,  seized  the  scuttle  of  coal  that 


The  Problem  89 

was  upon  the  hearth,  and  with  one  move  emptied  the 
whole  upon  the  dying  embers.  '  I  want  a  fire,'  she 
cried,  '  a  fire  ! '  '  That  is  hardly  the  way  to  make  one, ' 
I  returned,  carefully  taking  the  coal  out  with  my  hands, 
piece  by  piece,  and  putting  it  back  into  the  scuttle, 
tin » 

11  Till  what?"  I  asked,  seeing  him  and  Mr.  Gryce 
exchange  a  hurried  look. 

* '  Till  I  found  this  ! ' '  opening  his  large  hand,  and 
showing  me  a  broken-handled  key. 


MR.  GRYCE  DECEIVES  NEW  IMPETUS 

fc  There  's  nothing  ill 
Can  dwell  in  such  a  temple." 

Tempest. 

THIS  astounding  discovery  made  a  most  unhappy 
impression  upon  me.  It  was  true,  then.  Eleanore 
the  beautiful,  the  lovesome,  was  —  I  did  not,  could  not 
finish  the  sentence,  even  in  the  silence  of  my  own  mind. 

"  You  look  surprised,"  said  Mr.  Gryce,  glancing 
curiously  towards  the  key.  "  Now,  I  ain't.  A  woman 
does  not  thrill,  blush,  equivocate,  and  faint  for  nothing; 
especially  such  a  woman  as  Miss  Leaven  worth." 

"  A  woman  who  could  do  such  a  deed  would  be  the 
last  to  thrill,  equivocate,  and  faint,"  I  retorted.  "  Give 
me  the  key  ;  let  me  see  it." 

He  complacently  put  it  in  my  hand.  "  It  is  the  one 
we  want.  No  getting  out  of  that." 

I  returned  it.  '  *  If  sh  t  declares  herself  innocent,  I 
will  believe  her." 

He  stared  with  great  amazement.  * '  You  have  strong 
faith  in  the  women,"  he  laughed.  "  I  hope  they  will 
never  disappoint  you." 

I  had  no  reply  for  this,  and  a  short  silence  ensued, 
first  broken  by  Mr.  Gryce.  "  There  is  but  one  thing 
left  to  do,"  said  he.  "  Fobbs,  you  will  have  to  request 
Miss  Leavenworth  to  come  down.  Do  not  alarm  her; 

90 


The  Problem  91 

only  see  that  she  comes.  To  the  reception  room,"  he 
added,  as  the  man  drew  off. 

No  sooner  were  we  left  alone  than  I  made  a  move  to 
return  to  Mary,  but  he  stopped  me. 

"  Come  and  see  it  out,"  he  whispered.  "  She  will 
be  down  in  a  moment ;  see  it  out ;  you  had  best. ' ' 

Glancing  back,  I  hesitated  ;  but  the  prospect  of  be 
holding  Eleanore  again  drew  me,  in  spite  of  myself. 
Telling  him  to  wait,  I  returned  to  Mary's  side  to  make 
my  excuses. 

"What  is  the  matter  —  what  has  occurred?"  she 
breathlessly  asked. 

"  Nothing  as  yet  to  disturb  you  much.  Do  not  be 
alarmed. ' '  But  my  face  betrayed  me. 

* '  There  is  something  ! ' '  said  she. 

"  Your  cousin  is  coming  down." 

' '  Down  here  ?  ' '  and  she  shrank  visibly. 

"  No,  to  the  reception  room." 

"  I  do  not  understand.  It  is  all  dreadful;  and  no 
one  tells  me  anything." 

"  I  pray  God  there  may  be  nothing  to  tell.  Judging 
from  your  present  faith  in  your  cousin,  there  will  not 
be.  Take  comfort,  then,  and  be  assured  I  will  inform 
you  if  anything  occurs  which  you  ought  to  know. ' ' 

Giving  her  a  look  of  encouragement,  I  left  her  crushed 
against  the  crimson  pillows  of  the  sofa  on  which  she  sat, 
and  rejoined  Mr.  Gryce.  We  had  scarcely  entered  the 
reception  room  when  Eleanore  I,eaven  worth  came  in. 

More  languid  than  she  was  an  hour  before,  but 
haughty  still,  she  slowly  advanced,  and,  meeting  my 
eye,  gently  bent  her  head. 

"  I  have  been  summoned  here,"  said  she,  directing 
herself  exclusively  to  Mr.  Gryce,  "by  an  individual 
whom  I  take  to  be  in  your  employ.  If  so,  may  I 


92  The  Leavenworth  Case 

request  you  to  make  your  wishes  known  at  once,  as  I 
am  quite  exhausted,  and  am  in  great  need  of  rest." 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,"  returned  Mr.  Gryce,  rubbing 
his  hands  together  and  staring  in  quite  a  fatherly  man 
ner  at  the  door-knob,  ' '  I  am  very  sorry  to  trouble  you, 
but  the  fact  is  I  wish  to  ask  you " 

But  here  she  stopped  him.  "  Anything  in  regard  to 
the  key  which  that  man  has  doubtless  told  you  he  saw 
me  drop  into  the  ashes  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Miss." 

"  Then  I  must  refuse  to  answer  any  questions  con 
cerning  it.  I  have  nothing  to  say  on  the  subject,  unless 
it  is  this  :  " — giving  him  a  look  full  of  suffering,  but 
full  of  a  certain  sort  of  courage,  too — "  that  he  was  right 
if  he  told  you  1  had  the  key  in  hiding  about  my  person, 
and  that  I  attempted  to  conceal  it  in  the  ashes  of  the 
grate." 

11  Still,  Miss- " 

But  she  had  already  withdrawn  to  the  door.  J<  I 
pray  you  to  excuse  me,"  said  she.  "  No  argument 
you  could  advance  would  make  any  difference  in  my 
determination;  therefore  it  would  be  but  a  waste  of 
energy  on  your  part  to  attempt  any."  And,  with  a 
flitting  glance  in  my  direction,  not  without  its  appeal, 
she  quietly  left  the  room. 

For  a  moment  Mr.  Gryce  stood  gazing  after  her  with 
a  look  of  great  interest,  then,  bowing  with  almost  ex 
aggerated  homage,  he  hastily  followed  her  out. 

I  had  scarcely  recovered  from  the  surprise  occasioned 
by  this  unexpected  movement  when  a  quick  step  was 
heard  in  the  hall,  and  Mary,  flushed  and  anxious, 
appeared  at  n^  side. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  she  inquired.  '*  What  has  Eleanore 
been  saying?" 


The  Problem  93 

"  Alas  !  "  I  answered,  "  she  has  not  said  anything. 
That  is  the  trouble,  Miss  L,eavenworth.  Your  cousin 
preserves  a  reticence  upon  certain  points  very  painful 
to  witness.  She  ought  to  understand  that  if  she  per 
sists  in  doing  this,  that ' ' 

'  *  That  what  ?  ' '  There  was  no  mistaking  the  deep 
anxiety  prompting  this  question. 

"  That  she  cannot  avoid  the  trouble  that  will  ensue." 

For  a  moment  she  stood  gazing  at  me,  with  great 
horror-stricken,  incredulous  eyes  ;  then  sinking  back 
into  a  chair,  flung  her  hands  over  her  face  with  the  cry : 

"  Oh,  why  were  we  ever  born  !  Why  were  we  al 
lowed  to  live !  Why  did  we  not  perish  with  those  who 
gave  us  birth  ! ' ' 

In  the  face  of  anguish  like  this,  I  could  not  keep  still. 

"  Dear  Miss  Leavenworth, "  I  essayed,  "  there  is  no 
cause  for  such  despair  as  this.  The  future  looks  dark, 
but  not  impenetrable.  Your  cousin  will  listen  to  rea 
son,  and  in  explaining " 

But  she,  deaf  to  my  words,  had  again  risen  to  her  feet, 
and  stood  before  me  in  an  attitude  almost  appalling. 

"  Some  women  in  my  position  would  go  mad  !  mad  ! 
mad!" 

I  surveyed  her  with  growing  wonder.  I  thought  I 
knew  what  she  meant.  She  was  conscious  of  having 
given  the  cue  which  had  led  to  this  suspicion  of  her 
cousin,  and  that  in  this  way  the  trouble  which  hung 
over  their  heads  was  of  her  own  making.  I  endeavored 
to  soothe  her,  but  my  efforts  were  all  unavailing.  Ab 
sorbed  in  her  own  anguish,  she  paid  but  little  attention 
to  me.  Satisfied  at  last  that  I  could  do  nothing  more 
for  her,  I  turned  to  go.  The  movement  seemed  to 
arouse  her. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  leave,'*  said  I,  "  without  having 


94  The  Leavenworth  Case 

afforded  you  any  comfort.  Believe  me  ;  I  am  very 
anxious  to  assist  you.  Is  there  no  one  I  can  send  to 
your  side  ;  no  woman  friend  or  relative  ?  It  is  sad  to 
leave  you  alone  in  this  house  at  such  a  time." 

1 '  And  do  you  expect  me  to  remain  here  ?  Why,  I 
should  die  !  Here  to-night  ?  ' '  and  the  long  shudders 
shook  her  very  frame. 

"It  is  not  at  all  necessary  for  you  to  do  so,  Miss 
Leavenworth,"  broke  in  a  bland  voice  over  our 
shoulders. 

I  turned  with  a  start.  Mr.  Gryce  was  not  only  at 
our  back,  but  had  evidently  been  there  for  some  mo 
ments.  Seated  near  the  door,  one  hand  in  his  pocket, 
the  other  caressing  the  arm  of  his  chair,  he  met  our 
gaze  with  a  sidelong  smile  that  seemed  at  once  to  beg 
pardon  for  the  intrusion,  and  to  assure  us  it  was  made 
with  no  unworthy  motive.  "  Everything  will  be  prop 
erly  looked  after,  Miss  ;  you  can  leave  with  perfect 
safety.5' 

I  expected  to  see  her  resent  this  interference;  but  in 
stead  of  that,  she  manifested  a  certain  satisfaction  in 
beholding  him  there. 

Drawing  me  to  one  side,  she  whispered,  "  You  think 
this  Mr.  Gryce  very  clever,  do  you  not  ?  " 

"  Well,"  I  cautiously  replied,  "  he  ought  to  be  to 
hold  the  position  he  does.  The  authorities  evidently 
repose  great  confidence  in  him." 

Stepping  from  my  side  as  suddenly  as  she  had  ap 
proached  it,  she  crossed  the  room  and  stood  before  Mr. 
Gryce. 

'  "  Sir,"  said  she,  gazing  at  him  with  a  glance  of  en 
treaty:  "  I  hear  you  have  great  talents  ;  that  you  can 
ferret  out  the  real  criminal  from  a  score  of  doubtful 
characters,  and  that  nothing  can  escape  the  penetration 


The  Problem  95 

of  your  eye.     If  this  is  so,  have  pity  on  two  orphan ; 
girls,  suddenly  bereft  of  their  guardian  and  protector,  j 
and  use  your  acknowledged  skill  in  finding  out  who  \ 
has  committed  this  crime.     It  would  be  folly  in  me  to  ' 
endeavor  to  hide  from  you  that  my  cousin  in  her  testi 
mony  has  given  cause  for  suspicion  ;  but  I  here  declare 
her  to  be  as  innocent  of  wrong  as  I  am ;  and  I  am  only 
endeavoring  to  turn  the  eye  of  justice  from  the  guiltless 
to  the  guilty  when  I  entreat  you  to  look  elsewhere  for 
the  culprit  who  committed  this  deed."     Pausing,  she 
held  her  two  hands  out  before  him.     "  It  must  have 
been  some  common  burglar  or  desperado  ;  can  you  not 
bring  him,  then,  to  justice  ?  " 

Her  attitude  was  so  touching,  her  whole  appearance 
so  earnest  and  appealing,  that  I  saw  Mr.  Gryce's 
countenance  brim  with  suppressed  emotion,  though  his 
eye  never  left  the  coffee-urn  upon  which  it  had  fixed 
itself  at  her  first  approach. 

"  You  must  find  out  —  you  can!"  she  went  on. 
"  Hannah— the  girl  who  is  gone — must  know  all  about 
it.  Search  for  her,  ransack  the  city,  do  anything  ;  my 
property  is  at  your  disposal.  I  will  offer  a  large  re 
ward  for  the  detection  of  the  burglar  who  did  this 
deed  !" 

Mr.  Gryce  slowly  rose.  "  Miss  Leavenworth,"  he 
began,  and  stopped  ;  the  man  was  actually  agitated. 
11  Miss  I^eavenworth,  I  did  not  need  your  very  touching 
appeal  to  incite  me  to  my  utmost  duty  in  this  case. 
Personal  and  professional  pride  were  in  themselves 
sufficient.  But,  since  you  have  honored  me  with  this 
expression  of  your  wishes,  I  will  not  conceal  from  you 
that  I  shall  feel  a  certain  increased  interest  in  the  affair 
from  this  hour.  What  mortal  man  can  do,  I  will  do, 
and  if  in  one  month  from  this  day  I  do  not  come  to  you 


96  The  Leavenworth  Case 

for  my  reward,  Bbenezer  Gryce  is  not  the  man  I  have 
always  taken  him  to  be." 

"  And  Eleanore  ?  " 

"  We  will  mention  no  names,"  said  he,  gently  wav 
ing  his  hand  to  and  fro. 

A  few  minutes  later,  I  left  the  house  with  Miss 
lyeavenworth,  she  having  expressed  a  wish  to  have  me 
accompany  her  to  the  home  of  her  friend,  Mrs.  Gilbert, 
with  whom  she  had  decided  to  take  refuge.  As  we 
rolled  down  the  street  in  the  carriage  Mr.  Gryce  had 
been  kind  enough  to  provide  for  us,  I  noticed  my  com 
panion  cast  a  look  of  regret  behind  her,  as  if  she  could 
not  help  feeling  some  compunctions  at  this  desertion  of 
her  cousin. 

But  this  expression  was  soon  changed  for  the  alert 
look  of  one  who  dreads  to  see  a  certain  face  start  up 
from  some  unknown  quarter.  Glancing  up  and  down 
the  street,  peering  furtively  into  doorways  as  we  passed, 
starting  and  trembling  if  a  sudden  figure  appeared  011 
the  curbstone,  she  did  not  seem  to  breathe  with  perfect 
ease  till  we  had  left  the  avenue  behind  us  and  entered 
upon  Thirty-seventh  Street.  Then,  all  at  once  her 
natural  color  returned  and,  leaning  gently  toward  me, 
she  asked  if  I  had  a  pencil  and  piece  of  paper  I  could 
give  her.  I  fortunately  possessed  both.  Handing 
them  to  her,  I  watched  her  with  some  little  curiosity 
while  she  wrote  two  or  three  lines,  wondering  she  could 
choose  such  a  time  and  place  for  the  purpose. 

"  A  little  note  I  wish  to  send,"  she  explained, 
glancing  at  the  almost  illegible  scrawl  with  an  expres 
sion  of  doubt.  "  Could  n't  you  stop  the  carriage  a 
moment  while  I  direct  it  ?  " 

I  did  so,  and  in  another  instant  the  leaf  which  I  had 
torn  from  my  note-book  was  folded,  directed,  and  sealed 


The  Problem  97 

with  a  stamp  which  she  had  taken  from  her  own 
pocket-book. 

"  That  is  a  crazy-looking  epistle,"  she  muttered,  as 
she  laid  it,  direction  downwards,  in  her  lap. 

"  Why  not  wait,  then,  till  you  arrive  at  your  destina 
tion,  where  you  can  seal  it  properly,  and  direct  it  at 
your  leisure  ?  " 

"  Because  I  am  in  haste.  I  wish  to  mail  it  now. 
Look,  there  is  a  box  en  the  corner ;  please  ask  the 
driver  to  stop  once  more.'* 

"  Shall  I  not  post  it  for  you  ?  "  I  asked,  holding  out 
my  hand. 

But  she  shook  her  head,  and,  without  waiting  for  my 
assistance,  opened  the  door  on  her  own  side  of  the  car 
riage  and  leaped  to  the  ground.  Even  then  she  paused 
to  glance  up  and  down  the  street,  before  venturing  to 
drop  her  hastily  written  letter  into  the  box.  But  when 
it  had  left  her  hand,  she  looked  brighter  and  more  hope 
ful  than  I  had  yet  seen  her.  And  when,  a  few  mo 
ments  later,  she  turned  to  bid  me  good-by  in  front  of 
her  friend's  house,  it  was  with  almost  a  cheerful  air  she 
put  out  her  hand  and  entreated  me  to  call  on  her  the 
next  day,  and  inform  her  how  the  inquest  progressed. 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  disguise  from  you  the  fact  that 
I  spent  all  that  long  evening  in  going  over  the  testi 
mony  given  at  the  inquest,  endeavoring  to  reconcile 
what  I  had  heard  with  any  other  theory  than  that  of 
Eleanore's  guilt.  Taking  a  piece  of  paper,  I  jotted 
down  the  leading  causes  of  suspicion  as  follows  : 

1.  Her  late  disagreement  with  her  uncle,  and  evi 
dent  estrangement  from  him,  as  testified  to  b}^  Mr. 
Harwell. 

2.  The  mysterious  disappearance  of  one  of  'the  ser 
vants  of  the  house 


98  The  Leavenworth  Case 

3.  The  forcible  accusation  made  by  her  cousin, — 
overheard,  however,  only  by  Mr.  Gryce  and  myself. 

4.  Her  equivocation  in  regard  to  the  handkerchief 
found  stained  with  pistol  smut  on  the  scene  of  the 
tragedy. 

5.  Her  refusal  to  speak  in  regard  to  the  paper  which 
she  was  supposed  to  have  taken  from  Mr.   Leaven- 
worth's  table  immediately  upon  the  removal  of  the 
body. 

6.  The  finding  of  the  library  key  in  her  possession. 
"  A  dark  record,"   I   involuntarily   decided,    as  I 

looked  it  over;  but  even  in  doing  so  began  jotting 
down  on  the  other  side  of  the  sheet  the  following  ex 
planatory  notes : 

1.  Disagreements  and  even  estrangements  between 
relatives  are  common.     Cases  where  such  disagreements 
and  estrangements  have  led  to  crime,  rare. 

2.  The  disappearance  of  Hannah  points  no  more  cer 
tainly  in  one  direction  than  another. 

3.  If  Mary's  private  accusation  of  her  cousin  was 
forcible  and  convincing,  her  public  declaration  that  she 
neither  knew  nor  suspected  who  might  be  the  author 
of  this  crime,  was  equally  so.     To  be  sure,  the  former 
possessed  the  advantage  of  being  uttered  spontaneously; 
but  it  was  likewise  true  that  it  was  spoken  under  mo 
mentary  excitement,  without  foresight  of  the  conse 
quences,  and  possibly  without  due  consideration  of  the 
facts. 

4.  5.  An  innocent  man  or  woman,  under  the  influence 
of  terror,  will  often  equivocate  in  regard  to  matters  that 
seem  to  criminate  them. 

But  the  key!  What  could  I  say  to  that  ?  Nothing. 
With  that  key  in  her  possession,  and  unexplained, 
Kleanore  Leavenworth  stood  in  an  attitude  of  suspicion 


The  Problem  99 

which  even  I  felt  forced  to  recognize.  Brought  to  this 
point,  I  thrust  the  paper  into  my  pocket,  and  took  up 
the  evening  Express.  Instantly  my  eye  fell  upon  these 
words  • 

SHOCKING  MURDER 


MR.  LEAVENWORTH,  THE  WELL-KNOWN  MILLIONAIRE, 
FOUND  DEAD  IN  HIS  ROOM 


NO  CLUE  TO  THE  PERPETRATOR  OF  THE  DEED 


THE    AWFUL    CRIME    COMMITTED    WITH    A    PISTOL  — 
EXTRAORDINARY   FEATURES  OF  THE  AFFAIR 

Ah !  here  at  least  was  one  comfort ;  her  name  was  not 
yet  mentioned  as  that  of  a  suspected  party.  But  what 
might  not  the  morrow  bring  ?  I  thought  of  Mr.  Gryce's 
expressive  look  as  he  handed  me  that  key,  and  shud 
dered. 

"  She  must  be  innocent ;  she  cannot  be  otherwise," 
I  reiterated  to  myself,  and  then  pausing,  asked  what 
warranty  I  had  of  this  ?  Only  her  beautiful  face  ;  only, 
only  her  beautiful  face.  Abashed,  I  dropped  the  news 
paper,  and  went  down-stairs  just  as  a  telegraph  boy 
arrived  with  a  message  from  Mr.  Veeley.  It  was 
signed  by  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel  at  which  Mr. 
Veeley  was  then  stopping  and  ran  thus  : 

"WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
"MR.  EVERETT  RAYMOND— 

"  Mr.  Veeley  is  lying  at  my  house  ill.  Have  not  shown  him 
telegram,  fearing  results.  Will  do  so  as  soon  as  advisable. 

"THOMAS  Lo WORTHY." 


ioo          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

I  went  in  musing.  Why  this  sudden  sensation  of 
relief  on  my  part?  Could  it  be  that  I  had  uncon 
sciously  been  guilty  of  cherishing  a  latent  dread  of  my 
senior's  return  ?  Why,  who  else  could  know  so  well 
the  secret  springs  which  governed  this  family  ?  Who 
else  could  so  effectually  put  me  upon  the  right  track  ? 
Was  it  possible  that  I,  Everett  Raj^mond,  hesitated  to 
know  the  truth  in  any  case  ?  No,  that  should  never 
be  said  ;  and,  sitting  down  again,  I  drew  out  the  mem 
oranda  1  had  made  and,  looking  them  carefully  over, 
wrote  against  No.  6  the  word  SUSPICIOUS  in  good 
round  characters.  There  !  no  one  could  say,  after 
that,  I  had  allowed  myself  to  be  blinded  by  a  bewifch- 
ing  face  from  seeing  what,  in  a  woman  with  no  claims 
to  comeliness,  would  be  considered  at  once  an  almost 
indubitable  evidence  of  guilt. 

And  yet,  after  it  was  all  done,  I  found  myself  repeat 
ing  aloud  as  I  gazed  at  it :"  If  she  declares  herself 
innocent,  I  will  believe  her."  So  completely  are  we 
the  creatures  of  our  own  predilections. 


XI 

THE  SUMMONS 

*•  The  pink  of  courtesy." 


Romeo  and  Juliet, 


THE  morning  papers  contained  a  more  detailed 
account  of  the  murder  than  those  of  the  evening 
before,  but,  to  my  great  relief,  in  none  of  them  was 
Eleanore's  name  mentioned  in  the  connection  I  most 
dreaded. 

The  final  paragraph  in  the  Times  ran  thus  : 
"  The  detectives  are  upon  the  track  of  the  missing 
girl,  Hannah." 
And  in  the  Herald  I  read  the  following  notice  : 

"  A  Liberal  Reward  will  be  given  by  the  relatives  of  Horatio 
Leavenworth,  Esq.,  deceased,  for  any  news  of  the  whereabouts 

of  one  Hannah  Chester,  disappeared  from  the  house  

Fifth  Avenue  since  the  evening  of  March  4.  Said  girl  was  of 
Irish  extraction ;  in  age  about  twenty-five,  and  may  be  known 
by  the  following  characteristics.  Form  tall  and  slender;  hair 
dark  brown  with  a  tinge  of  red  ;  complexion  fresh  ;  features 
delicate  and  well  made  ;  hands  small,  but  with  the  fingers  much 
pricked  by  the  use  of  the  needle ;  feet  large,  and  of  a  coarser 
type  than  the  hands.  She  had  on  when  last  seen  a  checked 
gingham  dress,  brown  and  white,  and  was  supposed  to  have 
wrapped  herself  in  a  red  and  green  blanket  shawl,  very  old. 
Beside  the  above  distinctive  marks,  she  had  upon  her  right 
hand  wrist  the  scar  of  a  large  burn  ;  also  a  pit  or  two  of  small 
pox  upon  the  left  temple^ " 

MM 


102  The  Leavenworth  Case 

This  paragraph  turned  my  thoughts  in  a  new  direc 
tion.  Oddly  enough,  I  had  expended  very  little  thought 
upon  this  girl;  and  yet  how  apparent  it  was  that  she 
was  the  one  person  upon  whose  testimony,  if  given,  the 
whole  case  in  reality  hinged.  I  could  not  agree  with 
those  who  considered  her  as  personally  implicated  in 
the  murder.  An  accomplice,  conscious  of  what  was 
before  her,  would  have  hid  in  her  pockets  whatever 
money  she  possessed.  But  the  roll  of  bills  found  in 
Hannah's  trunk  proved  her  to  have  left  too  hurriedly 
for  this  precaution.  On  the  other  hand,  if  this  girl 
had  come  unexpectedly  upon  the  assassin  at  his  work, 
how  could  she  have  been  hustled  from  the  house  with 
out  creating  a  disturbance  loud  enough  to  have  been 
heard  by  the  ladies,  one  of  whom  had  her  door  open  ? 
An  innocent  girl's  first  impulse  upon  such  an  occasion 
would  have  been  to  scream;  and  yet  no  scream  was 
heard  ;  she  simply  disappeared.  What  were  we  to 
'think  then  ?  That  the  person  seen  by  her  was  one 
both  known  and  trusted?  I  would  not  consider  such  a 
possibility;  so  laying  down  the  paper,  I  endeavored  to 
put  away  all  further  consideration  of  the  affair  till  I 
had  acquired  more  facts  upon  which  to  base  the  theory. 
But  who  can  control  his  thoughts  when  over-excited 
upon  any  one  theme  ?  All  the  morning  I  found  my 
self  turning  the  case  over  in  my  mind,  arriving  ever  at 
one  of  two  conclusions.  Hannah  Chester  must  be 
found,  or  Eleanore  Leavenworth  must  explain  when 
and  by  what  means  the  key  of  the  library  door  came 
into  her  possession. 

At  two  o'clock  I  started  from  my  office  to  attend  the 
inquest;  but,  being  delayed  on  the  way,  missed  arriving 
at  the  house  until  after  the  delivery  of  the  verdict. 
This  was  a  disappointment  to  me,  especially  as  by  these 


The  Problem  103 

means  I  lost  the  opportunity  of  seeing  Eleanore  L,eav- 
enworth,  she  having  retired  to  her  room  immediately 
upon  the  dismissal  of  the  jury.  But  Mr.  Harwell  was 
visible,  and  from  him  I  heard  what  the  verdict  had 
been. 

1 '  Death  by  means  of  a  pistol  shot  from  the  hand  of 
some  person  unknown." 

The  result  of  the  inquest  was  a  great  relief  to  me.  I 
had  feared  worse.  Nor  could  I  help  seeing  that,  for  all 
his  studied  self-command,  the  pale-faced  secretary 
shared  in  my  satisfaction. 

What  was  less  of  a  relief  to  me  was  the  fact,  soon 
communicated,  that  Mr.  Gryce  and  his  subordinates 
had  left  the  premises  immediately  upon  the  delivery  of 
the  verdict.  Mr.  Gryce  was  not  the  man  to  forsake  an 
affair  like  this  while  anything  of  importance  connected 
with  it  remained  unexplained.  Could  it  be  he  medi 
tated  any  decisive  action  ?  Somewhat  alarmed,  I  was 
about  to  hurry  from  the  house  for  the  purpose  of  learn 
ing  what  his  intentions  were,  when  a  sudden  movement 
in  the  front  lower  window  of  the  house  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  way  arrested  my  attention,  and,  looking 
closer,  I  detected  the  face  of  Mr.  Fobbs  peering  out 
from  behind  the  curtain.  The  sight  assured  me  I  was 
not  wrong  in  my  estimate  of  Mr.  Gryce  ;  and,  struck 
with  pity  for  the  desolate  girl  left  to  meet  the  exigencies 
of  a  fate  to  which  this  watch  upon  her  movements  was 
but  the  evident  precursor,  I  stepped  back  and  sent  her 
a  note,  in  which,  as  Mr.  Veeley's  representative,  I 
proffered  my  services  in  case  of  any  sudden  emergency, 
saying  I  was  always  to  be  found  in  my  rooms  between 
the  hours  of  six  and  eight.  This  done,  I  proceeded  to 
the  house  in  Thirty-seventh  Street  where  I  had  left 
Miss  Mary  L,eavenworth  the  day  before. 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


Ushered  into  the  long  and  narrow  drawing-room 
which  of  late  years  has  been  so  fashionable  in  our  up 
town  houses,  I  found  myself  almost  immediately  in  the 
presence  of  Miss  Leavenworth. 

"  Oh,"  she  cried,  with  an  eloquent  gesture  of  wel 
come,  '  l  I  had  begun  to  think  I  was  forsaken  !  '  '  and 
advancing  impulsively,  she  held  out  her  hand.  "  What 
is  the  news  from  home  ?  '  * 

"  A  verdict  of  murder,  Miss  Leavenworth." 

Her  eyes  did  not  lose  their  question. 

"  Perpetrated  by  party  or  parties  unknown." 

A  look  of  relief  broke  softly  across  her  features. 

"  And  they  are  all  gone  ?  "  she  exclaimed. 

"  I  found  no  one  in  the  house  who  did  not  belong 
there." 

"  Oh  !  then  we  can  breathe  easily  again." 

I  glanced  hastily  up  and  down  the  room. 

"  There  is  no  one  here,"  said  she. 

And  still  I  hesitated.  At  length,  in  an  awkward  way 
enough,  I  turned  towards  her  and  said  : 

"  I  do  not  wish  either  to  offend  or  alarm  you,  but  I 
must  say  that  I  consider  it  your  duty  to  return  to  your 
own  home  to-night." 

"  Why  ?  "  she  stammered.  "  Is  there  any  particular 
reason  for  my  doing  so  ?  Have  you  not  perceived  the 
impossibility  of  my  remaining  in  the  same  house  with 
Eleanore?  " 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,  I  cannot  recognize  any  so- 
called  impossibility  of  this  nature.  Eleanore  is  your 
cousin  ;  has  been  brought  up  to  regard  you  as  a  sister  ; 
it  is  not  worthy  of  you  to  desert  her  at  the  time  of  her 
necessity.  You  will  see  this  as  I  do,  if  you  will  allow 
yourself  a  moment's  dispassionate  thought." 

*  *  Dispassionate  thought  is  hardly  possible  under  the 


The  Problem  105 

circumstances,'*  she  returned,  with  a  smile  of  bitter 
irony. 

But  before  I  could  reply  to  this,  she  softened, 
and  asked  if  I  was  very  anxious  to  have  her  return ; 
and  when  I  replied,  "  More  than  I  can  say,"  she 
trembled  and  looked  for  a  moment  as  if  she  were  half 
inclined  to  yield;  but  suddenly  broke  into  tears, 
crying  it  was  impossible,  and  that  I  was  cruel  to  ask 
it. 

I  drew  back,  baffled  and  sore.  "  Pardon  me,"  said 
I,  "  I  have  indeed  transgressed  the  bounds  allotted  to 
me.  I  will  not  do  so  again  ;  you  have  doubtless  many 
friends;  let  some  of  them  advise  you." 

She  turned  upon  me  all  fire.  *  The  friends  you 
speak  of  are  flatterers.  You  alone  have  the  courage  to 
command  me  to  do  what  is  right." 

"  Bxcuse  me,  I  do  not  command  ;  I  only  entreat." 

She  made  no  reply,  but  began  pacing  the  loom,  her 
eyes  fixed,  her  hands  working  convulsively.  '  You 
little  know  what  you  ask,"  said  she.  "  I  feel  as 
though  the  very  atmosphere  of  that  house  would  de 
stroy  me;  but — why  cannot  Kleanore  come  here  ?  "  she 
impulsively  inquired.  '*  I  know  Mrs.  Gilbert  will  be 
quite  willing,  and  I  could  keep  my  room,  and  we  need 
not  meet." 

1  *  You  forget  that  there  is  another  call  at  home,  be 
sides  the  one  I  have  already  mentioned.  To-morrow 
afternoon  your  uncle  is  to  be  buried." 

"  O  yes  ;  poor,  poor  uncle!  " 

f  You  are  the.  head  of  the  household,'*  I  now  ven 
tured,  "  and  the  proper  one  to  attend  to  the  final  offices 
towards  one  who  has  done  so  much  for  you." 

There  was  something  strange  in  the  look  which  she 
gave  me.  "It  is  true,"  she  assented.  T.uen,  with  a 


io6  The  Leavenvvorth  Case 

grand  turn  of  her  body,  and  a  quick  air  of  determina 
tion:  "  I  am  desirous  of  being  worthy  of  your  good 
opinion.  I  will  go  back  to  my  cousin,  Mr.  Raymond." 

I  felt  my  spirits  rise  a  little  ;  I  took  her  by  the  hand. 
* '  May  that  cousin  have  no  need  of  the  comfort  which  I 
am  now  sure  you  will  be  ready  to  give  her. ' ' 

Her  hand  dropped  from  mine.  "  I  mean  to  do  my 
duty,"  was  her  cold  response. 

As  I  descended  the  stoop,  I  met  a  certain  thin  and 
fashionably  dressed  young  man,  who  gave  me  a  very 
sharp  look  as  he  passed.  As  he  wore  his  clothes  a 
little  too  conspicuously  for  the  perfect  gentleman,  and 
as  I  had  some  remembrance  of  having  seen  him  at  the 
inquest,  I  set  him  down  for  a  man  in  Mr.  Gryce's  em 
ploy,  and  hasted  on  towards  the  avenue  ;  when  what 
was  my  surprise  to  find  on  the  corner  another  person, 
who,  while  pretending  to  be  on  the  look  out  for  a  car, 
cast  upon  me,  as  I  approached,  a  furtive  glance  of 
intense  inquiry.  As  this  latter  was,  without  question,  a 
gentleman,  I  felt  some  annoyance,  and,  walking  quietly 
up  to  him,  asked  if  he  found  my  countenance  familiar, 
that  he  scrutinized  it  so  closely. 

'  *  I  find  it  a  very  agreeable  one, ' '  was  his  unexpected 
reply,  as  he  turned  from  me  and  walked  down  the 
avenue. 

Nettled,  and  in  no  small  degree  mortified,  at  the  dis 
advantage  in  which  his  courtesy  had  placed  me,  I 
stood  watching  him  as  he  disappeared,  asking  myself 
who  and  what  he  was.  For  he  was  not  only  a  gentle 
man,  but  a  marked  one;  possessing  features  of  unusual 
symmetry  as  well  as  a  form  of  peculiar  elegance.  Not 
so  very  young  —  he  might  well  be  forty  —  there  were 
yet  evident  on  his  face  the  impress  of  youth's  strongest 
emotions,  not  a  curve  of  his  chin  nor  a  glance  of  his 


The  Problem  107 

eye  betraying  in  an}  way  the  slightest  leaning  towards 
ennui,  though  face  ana  figure  were  of  that  type  which 
seems  most  to  invite  and  cherish  it. 

"  He  can  have  no  connection  with  the  police  force," 
thought  I ;  "  nor  is  it  by  any  means  certain  that  he 
knows  me,  or  is  interested  in  my  affairs;  but  I  shall  not 
soon  forget  him,  for  all  that." 

The  summons  from  Eleanore  Leavenworth  came 
about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  It  was  brought  by 
Thomas,  and  read  as  follows  : 

"  Come,  Oh,  come  II  — "  there  breaking  off  in  a 
tremble,  as  if  the  pen  had  fallen  from  a  nerveless  hand. 

It  did  not  take  me  long  to  find  my  way  to  her  home. 


xn 

ELEANORS 

"  Constant  you  are— 
.    .    .    And  for  secrecy 
No  lady  closer." 

Henry  IV. 

"  No,  't  is  slander, 

Whose  edge  is  sharper  than  the  sword  whose  tongue 
Outvenoms  all  the  worms  of  Nile." 

Cymbeline. 

THE  door  was  opened  by  Molly.  "  You  will  find 
Miss  Eleanore  in  the  drawing-room,  sir,*'  she 
said,  ushering  me  in. 

Fearing  I  knew  not  what,  I  hurried  to  the  room 
thus  indicated,  feeling  as  never  before  the  sumptuous- 
ness  of  the  magnificent  hall  with  its  antique  flooring, 
carved  woods,  and  bronze  ornamentations  : — the  mock 
ery  of  things  for  the  first  time  forcing  itself  upon  me. 
Laying  my  hand  on  the  drawing-room  door,  I  listened. 
All  was  silent.  Slowly  pulling  it  open,  I  lifted  the 
heavy  satin  curtains  hanging  before  rne  to  the  floor, 
and  looked  within.  What  a  picture  met  my  eyes  ! 

Sitting  in  the  light  of  a  solitary  gas-jet,  whose  faint 
glimmering  just  served  to  make  visible  the  glancing 
satin  and  stainless  marble  of  the  gorgeous  apartment,  I 
beheld  Eleanore  Leaven  worth.  Pale  as  the  sculptured 
image  of  the  Psyche  that  towered  above  her  from  the 
mellow  dusk  of  the  bow- window  near  which  she  sat, 
beautiful  as  it,  and  almost  as  immobile,  she  crouched 

108 


The  Problem  109 

with  rigid  hands  frozen  in  forgotten  entreaty  before 
her,  apparently  insensible  to  sound,  movement,  or 
touch  ;  a  silent  figure  of  despair  in  presence  of  an 
implacable  fate. 

Impressed  by  the  scene,  I  stood  with  my  hand  upon 
the  curtain,  hesitating  if  to  advance  or  retreat,  when 
suddenly  a  sharp  tremble  shook  her  impassive  frame, 
the  rigid  hands  unlocked,  the  stony  eyes  softened,  and, 
springing  to  her  feet,  she  uttered  a  cry  of  satisfaction, 
and  advanced  towards  me. 

"  Miss  Leaven  worth  !  "  I  exclaimed,  starting  at  the 
sound  of  my  own  voice. 

She  paused,  and  pressed  her  hands  to  her  face,  as  if 
the  world  and  all  she  had  forgotten  had  rushed  back 
upon  her  at  this  simple  utterance  of  her  name. 

"  What  is  it?  "  I  asked. 

Her  hands  fell  heavily.  "Do  you  not  know  ?  They 
—  they  are  beginning  to  say  that  I — "  she  paused, 
and  clutched  her  throat.  "  Read!  "  she  gasped,  point 
ing  to  a  newspaper  lying  on  the  floor  at  her  feet. 

I  stooped  and  lifted  what  showed  itself  at  first  glance 
to  be  the  Evening  Telegram.  It  needed  but  a  single 
look  to  inform  me  to  what  she  referred.  There,  in 
startling  characters,  I  beheld: 

THE  LEAVENWORTH  MURDER 


LATEST  DEVELOPMENTS  IN  THE  MYSTERIOUS  CASE 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  MURDERED  MAN'S  OWN  FAMILY 
STRONGLY  SUSPECTED  OF  THE  CRIME 


THE  MOST   BEAUTIFUL  WOMAN   IN  NEW  YORK  UNDER 
A   CLOUD 


PAST  HISTORY  OF  MISS   ELEANOR3  LEAVENWORTH 


no          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

I  was  prepared  for  it  ;  had  schooled  myself  for  this 
very  thing,  you  might  say  ;  and  yet  I  could  not  help 
recoiling.  Dropping  the  paper  from  my  hand,  I  stood 
before  her,  longing  and  yet  dreading  to  look  into  her 
face. 

1 '  What  does  it  mean  ? ' '  she  panted ;  *  *  what,  what 
does  it  mean?  Is  the  world  mad?"  and  her  eyes, 
fixed  and  glassy,  stared  into  mine  as  if  she  found  it 
impossible  to  grasp  the  sense  of  this  outrage. 

I  shook  my  head.     I  could  not  reply. 

' '  To  accuse  me, ' '  she  murmured  ;  ' '  me,  me ! '  *  strik 
ing  her  breast  with  her  clenched  hand,  * '  who  loved  the 
very  ground  he  trod  upon;  who  would  have  cast  my 
own  body  between  him  and  the  deadly  bullet  if  I  had 
only  known  his  danger.  "  Oh!  "  she  cried,  "  it  is  not 
a  slander  they  utter,  but  a  dagger  which  they  thrust 
into  my  heart ! ' ' 

Overcome  by  her  misery,  but  determined  not  to  show 
my  compassion  until  more  thoroughly  convinced  of  her 
complete  innocence,  I  replied,  after  a  pause  : 

"  This  seems  to  strike  you  with  great  surprise,  Miss 
L,eaven worth  ;  were  you  not  then  able  to  foresee  what 
must  follow  your  determined  reticence  upon  certain 
points  ?  Did  you  know  so  little  of  human  nature  as  to 
imagine  that,  situated  as  you  are,  you  could  keep 
silence  in  regard  to  any  matter  connected  with  this 
crime,  without  arousing  the  antagonism  of  the  crowd, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  suspicions  of  the  police  ?  ' ' 

"  But  — but " 

I  hurriedly  waved  my  hand.  "  When  you  defied 
the  coroner  to  find  any  suspicious  paper  in  your  pos 
session  ;  when  "  —  I  forced  myself  to  speak  —  "  you  re 
fused  to  tell  Mr.  Gryce  how  you  came  in  possession  of 
the  key " 


The  Problem  1 1 1 

She  drew  hastily  back,  a  heavy  pall  seeming  to  fall 
over  her  with  my  words. 

"  Don't,"  she  whispered,  looking  in  terror  about  her. 
"  Don't  !  Sometimes  I  think  the  walls  have  ears,  and 
that  the  very  shadows  listen." 

"  Ah,"  I  returned;  "  then  you  hope  to  keep  from  the 
world  what  is  known  to  the  detectives  ?  ' ' 

She  did  not  answer. 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,"  I  went  on,  "  I  am  afraid  you 
do  not  comprehend  your  position.  Try  to  look  at  the 
case  for  a  moment  in  the  light  of  an  unprejudiced  per 
son  ;  try  to  see  for  yourself  the  necessity  of  explain 
ing " 

"  But  I  cannot  explain,"  she  murmured  huskily. 

"  Cannot  !" 

I  do  not  know  whether  it  was  the  tone  of  my  voice 
or  the  word  itself,  but  that  simple  expression  seemed 
to  affect  her  like  a  blow. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  cried,  shrinking  back:  "  you  do  not, 
cannot  doubt  me,  too?  I  thought  that  you  — "  and 
stopped.  "  I  did  not  dream  that  I  —  "  and  stopped 
again.  Suddenly  her  whole  form  quivered.  "Oh,  I 
see  !  You  have  mistrusted  me  from  the  first ;  the  ap 
pearances  against  me  have  been  too  strong  ' '  ;  and  she 
sank  inert,  lost  in  the  depths  of  her  shame  and  humilia 
tion,  "  Ah,  but  now  I  am  forsaken  !  "  she  murmured. 

The  appeal  went  to  my  heart.  Starting  forward,  I 
exclaimed  :  "  Miss  Leavenworth,  I  am  but  a  man  ;  I 
cannot  see  you  so  distressed.  Say  that  you  are  inno 
cent,  and  I  will  believe  you,  without  regard  to  appear 
ances." 

Springing  erect,  she  towered  upon  me.  "  Can  any 
one  look  in  my  face  and  accuse  me  of  guilt  ?  "  Then, 
as  I  sadly  shook  my  head,  she  hurriedly  gasped :  '  *  You 


ii2          The  Leavenworth  Case 

want  further  proof  !  "  and,  quivering  with  an  extraor 
dinary  emotion,  she  sprang  to  the  door. 

"  Come,  then,"  she  cried,  "  come  !  "  her  eyes  flash 
ing  full  of  resolve  upon  me. 

Aroused,  appalled,  moved  in  spite  of  myself,  I  crossed 
the  room  to  where  she  stood;  but  she  was  already  in 
the  hall.  Hastening  after  her,  filled  with  a  fear  I  dared 
not  express,  I  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs  ;  she  was 
half-way  to  the  top.  Following  her  into  the  hall  above, 
I  saw  her  form  standing  erect  and  noble  at  the  door  of 
her  uncle's  bedroom, 

"  Come  !  "  she  again  cried,  but  this  time  in  a  calm 
and  reverential  tone  ;  and  flinging  the  door  open  before 
her,  she  passed  in. 

Subduing  the  wonder  which  I  felt,  I  slowly  followed 
her.  There  was  no  light  in  the  room  of  death,  but  the 
flame  of  the  gas-burner,  at  the  far  end  of  the  hall, 
shone  weirdly  in,  and  by  its  glimmering  I  beheld 
her  kneeling  at  the  shrouded  bed,  her  head  bowed 
above  that  of  the  murdered  man,  her  hand  upon  his 
breast. 

"  You  have  said  that  if  I  declared  my  innocence  you 
would  believe  me/'  she  exclaimed,  lifting  her  head  as 
I  entered.  "  See  here,"  and  laying  her  cheek  against 
the  pallid  brow  of  her  dead  benefactor,  she  kissed  the 
clay-cold  lips  softly,  wildly,  agonizedly,  then,  leaping 
to  her  feet,  cried,  in  a  subdued  but  thrilling  tone  : 
"  Could  I  do  that  if  I  were  guilty  ?  Would  not  the 
breath  freeze  on  my  lips,  the  blood  congeal  in  my  veins, 
and  my  heart  faint  at  this  contact  ?  Son  of  a  father 
loved  and  reverenced,  can  you  believe  me  to  be  a 
woman  stained  with  crime  when  I  can  do  this  ?  "  and 
kneeling  again  she  cast  her  arms  over  and  about  that 
inanimate  form,  looking  in  my  face  at  the  same  time 


The  Problem  113 

with  an  expression  no  mortal  touch  could  paint,  nor 
tongue  describe. 

4<  In  olden  times,"  she  went  on,  "  they  used  to  say 
that  a  dead  body  would  bleed  if  its  murderer  came  in 
contact  with  it.  What  then  would  happen  here  if  I, 
his  daughter,  his  cherished  child,  loaded  with  benefits, 
enriched  with  his  jewels,  warm  with  his  kisses,  should 
be  the  thing  they  accuse  me  of  ?  Would  not  the  body 
of  the  outraged  dead  burst  its  very  shroud  and  repel 
me?" 

I  could  not  answer  ;  in  the  presence  of  some  scenes 
the  tongue  forgets  its  functions. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  went  on,  "  if  there  is  a  God  in  heaven\ 
who  loves  justice  and  hates  a  crime,  let  Him  hear  me 
now.  If  I,  by  thought  or  action,  with  or  without 
intention,  have  been  the  means  of  bringing  this  dear 
head  to  this  pass  ;  if  so  much  as  the  shadow  of  guilt, 
let  alone  the  substance,  lies  upon  my  heart  and  across 
these  feeble  woman's  hands,  may  His  wrath  speak  in 
righteous  retribution  to  the  world,  and  here,  upon  the 
breast  of  the  dead,  let  this  guilty  forehead  fall,  never  to 
rise  again  !  "  ,_j 

An  awed  silence  followed  this  invocation  ;  then  a 
long,  long  sigh  of  utter  relief  rose  tremulously  from  my 
breast,  and  all  the  feelings  hitherto  suppressed  in  my 
heart  burst  their  bonds,  and  leaning  towards  her  I 
took  her  hand  in  mine. 

*  You  do  not,  cannot  believe  me  tainted  by  crime 
now?"  she  whispered,  the  smile  which  does  not  stir 
the  lips,  but  rather  emanates  from  the  countenance,  like 
the  flowering  of  an  inner  peace,  breaking  softly  out  on 
cheek  and  brow. 

"  Crime  !  "  The  word  broke  uncontrollably  from 
my  lips  ;  "  crime  I" 


ri4          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  No,"  she  said  calmly,  "  the  man  does  not  live  who 
could  accuse  me  of  crime,  here." 

For  reply,  I  took  her  hand,  which  lay  in  mine,  and 
placed  it  on  the  breast  of  the  dead. 

Softly,  slowly,  gratefully,  she  bowed  her  head. 

"Now  let  the  struggle  come!"  she  whispered. 
"  There  is  one  who  will  believe  in  me,  however  dark 
appearances  may  be." 


XIII 

THE  PROBLEM 

"  But  who  would  force  the  soul,  tilts  with  a  straw 
Against  a  champion  cased  in  adamant." 

Wordsworth. 

WHEN  we  re-entered  the  parlor  below,  the  first 
sight  that  met  our  eyes  was  Mary,  standing 
wrapped  in  her  long  cloak  in  the  centre  of  the  room. 
She  had  arrived  during  our  absence,  and  now  awaited 
us  with  lifted  head  and  countenance  fixed  in  its  proud 
est  expression.  Looking  in  her  face,  I  realized  what 
the  embarrassment  of  this  meeting  must  be  to  these 
women,  and  would  have  retreated,  but  something  in 
the  attitude  of  Mary  Leavenworth  seemed  to  forbid  my 
doing  so.  At  the  same  time,  determined  that  the  oppor 
tunity  should  not  pass  without  some  sort  of  reconcile 
ment  between  them,  I  stepped  forward,  and,  bowing  to 
Mary,  said  : 

'*  Your  cousin  has  just  succeeded  in  convincing  me 
of  her  entire  innocence,  Miss  Leavenworth.  I  am  now 
ready  to  join  Mr.  Gryce,  heart  and  soul,  in  finding  out 
the  true  culprit." 

"  I  should  have  thought  one  look  into  Eleanore 
Leavenworth's  face  would  have  been  enough  to  satisfy 
you  that  she  is  incapable  of  crime,"  was  her  unexpected 
answer  ;  and,  lifting  her  head  with  a  proud  gesture, 
Mary  Leavenworth  fixed  her  eyes  steadfastly  on  mine. 

I  felt  the  blood  flash  to  my  brow,  but  before  I  could 

IIS 


n6          The  Leavenworth  Case 

speak,  tier  voice  rose  again  still  more  coldly  than 
before. 

"  It  is  hard  for  a  delicate  girl,  unused  to  aught  but 
the  most  flattering  expressions  of  regard,  to  be  obliged 
to  assure  the  world  of  her  innocence  in  respect  to  the 
committal  of  a  great  crime.  Kleanore  has  my  sympa 
thy."  And  sweeping  her  cloak  from  her  shoulders 
with  a  quick  gesture,  she  turned  her  gaze  for  the  first 
time  upon  her  cousin. 

Instantly  Eleauore  advanced,  as  if  to  meet  it ;  and  I 
could  not  but  feel  that,  for  some  reason,  this  moment 
possessed  an  importance  for  them  which  I  was  scarcely 
competent  to  measure.  But  if  I  found  myself  unable 
to  realize  its  significance,  I  at  least  responded  to  its 
intensity.  And  indeed  it  was  an  occasion  to  remember. 
To  behold  two  such  women,  either  of  whom  might  be 
considered  the  model  of  her  time,  face  to  face  and  drawn 
up  in  evident  antagonism,  was  a  sight  to  move  the 
dullest  sensibilities.  But  there  was  something  more  in 
this  scene  than  that.  It  was  the  shock  of  all  the  most 
passionate  emotions  of  the  human  soul ;  the  meeting 
of  waters  of  whose  depth  and  force  I  could  only  guess 
by  the  effect.  Eleariore  was  the  first  to  recover. 
Drawing  back  with  the  cold  haughtiness  which,  alas, 
I  had  almost  forgotten  in  the  display  of  later  and  softer 
emotions,  she  exclaimed  : 

"  There  is  something  better  than  sympathy,  and  that 
is  justice"  ;  and  turned,  as  if  to  go.  "  I  will  confer 
with  you  in  the  reception  room,  Mr.  Raymond." 

But  Mary,  springing  forward,  caught  her  back  with 
one  powerful  hand.  "  No,"  she  cried,  "  you  shall 
confer  with  me!  I  have  something  to  say  to  you, 
Bleanore  Leavenworth."  And,  taking  her  stand  in  the 
centre  of  the  room,  she  waited. 


The  Problem  117 

I  glanced  at  Eleanore,  saw  this  was  no  place  for  me, 
and  hastily  withdrew.     For  ten  long  minutes  I  paced 
the  floor  of  the  reception  room,  a  prey  to  a  thousand 
doubts  and  conjectures.     What  was  the  secret  of  this 
home  ?     What  had  given  rise  to  the  deadly  mistrust 
continually  manifested  between  these  cousins,  fitted  by 
nature  for  the  completest  companionship  and  the  most 
cordial  friendship  ?     It  was  not  a  thing  of  to-day  or 
yesterday.     No  sudden  flame  could  awake  such  con 
centrated  heat  of  emotion  as  that  of  which  I  had  just 
been  the  unwilling  witness.    One  must  go  farther  back 
than  this  murder  to  find  the  root  of  a  mistrust  so  great 
that  the  struggle  it  caused  made  itself  felt  even  where  I 
stood,  though  nothing  but  the  faintest  murmur  came  to 
my  ears  through  the  closed  doors. 

Presently  the  drawing-room  curtain  was  raised,  and 
Mary's  voice  was  heard  in  distinct  articulation. 

II  The  same  roof  can  never  shelter  us  both  after  this. 
To-morrow,  you  or  I  find  another  home. ' '  And,  blushing 
and  panting,  she  stepped  into  the  hall  and  advanced  to 
where  I  stood.      But  at  the  first  sight  of  my  face,  a 
change  came  over  her  ;  all  her  pride  seemed  to  dissolve, 
and,  flinging  out  her  hands,  as  if  to  ward  off  scrutiny, 
she  fled  from  my  side,  and  rushed  weeping  up-stairs. 

I  was  yet  laboring  under  the  oppression  caused  by 
this  painful  termination  of  the  strange  scene  when  the 
parlor  curtain  was  again  lifted,  and  Eleanore  entered 
the  room  where  I  was.  Pale  but  calm,  showing  no  evi 
dences  of  the  struggle  she  had  just  been  through,  unless 
by  a  little  extra  weariness  about  the  eyes,  she  sat  down 
by  my  side,  and,  meeting  my  gaze  with  one  unfathoma 
ble  in  its  courage,  said  after  a  pause  :  "  Tell  me  where 
I  stand  ;  let  me  know  the  worst  at  once  ;  I  fear  that  I 
have  not  indeed  comprehended  my  own  position •.." 


n8          The  Leavenworth  Case 

Rejoiced  to  hear  this  acknowledgment  from  her  lips, 
I  hastened  to  comply.  I  began  by  placing  before  her 
the  whole  case  as  it  appeared  to  an  unprejudiced  person ; 
enlarged  upon  the  causes  of  suspicion,  and  pointed  out 
in  what  regard  some  things  looked  dark  against  her, 
which  perhaps  to  her  own  mind  were  easily  explainable 
and  of  small  account ;  tried  to  make  her  see  the  im 
portance  of  her  decision,  and  finally  wound  up  with  an 
appeal.  Would  she  not  confide  in  me  ? 

"  But  I  thought  you  were  satisfied  ?  "  she  tremblingly 
remarked. 

"  And  so  I  am  ;  but  I  want  the  world  to  be  so,  too." 

"  Ah;  now  you  ask  too  much  !  The  finger  of  suspi 
cion  never  forgets  the  way  it  has  once  pointed,"  she 
sadly  answered.  "  My  name  is  tainted  forever." 

"  And  you  will  submit  to  this,  when  a  word " 

"  I  am  thinking  that  any  word  of  mine  now  would 
make  very  little  difference,"  she  murmured. 

I  looked  away,  the  vision  of  Mr.  Fobbs,  in  hiding  be 
hind  the  curtains  of  the  opposite  house,  recurring  pain 
fully  to  my  mind. 

"  If  the  affair  looks  as  bad  as  you  say  it  does,"  she 
pursued,  "it  is  scarcely  probable  that  Mr.  Gryce  will 
care  much  for  any  interpretation  of  mine  in  regard  to 
the  matter." 

1 '  Mr.  Gryce  would  be  glad  to  know  where  you  pro 
cured  that  key,  if  only  to  assist  him  in  turning  his 
inquiries  in  the  right  direction." 

She  did  not  reply,  and  my  spirits  sank  in  renewed 
depression. 

"  It  is  worth  your  while  to  satisfy  him,"  I  pursued  ; 
"  and  though  it  may  compromise  some  one  you  desire 
<>o  shield " 

She  rose  impetuously.     "  I  shall  never  divulge  to  any 


The  Problem  119 

one  how  I  came  in  possession  of  that  key."  And  sit- 
ting  again,  she  locked  her  hands  in  fixed  resolve  before 
her. 

I  rose  in  my  turn  and  paced  the  floor,  the  fang  of  an 
unreasoning  jealousy  striking  deep  into  my  heart. 

II  Mr.  Raymond,  if  the  worst  should  come,  and  all 
who  love  me  should  plead  on  bended  knees  for  me  to 
tell,  I  will  never  do  it." 

"  Then,"  said  I,  determined  not  to  disclose  my  secret 
thought,  but  equally  resolved  to  find  out  if  possible  her 
motive  for  this  silence,  "  you  desire  to  defeat  the  cause 
of  justice." 

She  neither  spoke  nor  moved. 

11  MissLeavenworth,"  I  now  said,  "  this  determined 
shielding  of  another  at  the  expense  of  your  own  good 
name  is  no  doubt  generous  of  you ;  but  your  friends  and 
the  lovers  of  truth  and  justice  cannot  accept  such  a 
sacrifice." 

She  started  haughtily.     "  Sir  !  "  she  said. 

' '  If  you  will  not  assist  us, "  I  went  on  calmly,  but 
determinedly,  "  we  must  do  without  your  aid.  After 
the  scene  I  have  just  witnessed  above  ;  after  the  tri 
umphant  conviction  which  you  have  forced  upon  me, 
not  only  of  your  innocence,  but  your  horror  of  the 
crime  and  its  consequences,  I  should  feel  myself  less 
than  a  man  if  I  did  not  sacrifice  even  your  own  good 
opinion,  in  urging  your  cause,  and  clearing  your  char 
acter  from  this  foul  aspersion. ' ' 

Again  that  heavy  silence. 

"  What  do  you  propose  to  do?  "  she  asked,  at  last. 

Crossing  the  room,  I  stood  before  her.  "  I  propose 
to  relieve  you  utterly  and  forever  from  suspicion,  by 
finding  out  and  revealing  to  the  world  the  true  culprit." 

I  expected  to  see  her  recoil,  so  positive  had  I  becoire 


120          The  Leavenworth  Case 

by  this  time  as  to  who  that  culprit  was.  But  instead 
of  that,  she  merely  folded  her  hands  still  more  tightly 
and  exclaimed  : 

"  I  doubt  if  you  will  be  able  to  do  that,  Mr.  Ray 
mond." 

"  Doubt  if  I  will  be  able  to  put  my  finger  upon  the 
guilty  man,  or  doubt  if  I  will  be  able  to  bring  him  to 
justice  ?  " 

"  I  doubt,**  she  said  with  strong  effort,  "  if  any 
one  ever  knows  who  is  the  guilty  person  in  this 
case." 

"  There  is  one  who  knows,"  I  said  with  a  desire  to 
test  her. 

"One?" 

"  The  girl  Hannah  is  acquainted  with  the  mystery 
of  that  night's  evil  doings,  Miss  I,eavenworth.  Find 
Hannah,  and  we  find  one  who  can  point  out  to  us  the 
assassin  of  your  uncle." 

"  That  is  mere  supposition,"  she  said;  but  I  saw  the 
blow  had  told. 

"  Your  cousin  has  offered  a  large  reward  for  the  girl, 
and  the  whole  country  is  on  the  lookout.  Within  a 
week  we  shall  see  her  in  our  midst." 

A  change  took  place  in  her  expression  and  bearing. 

:<  The  girl  cannot  help  me,"  she  said. 

Baffled  by  her  manner,  I  drew  back.  "  Is  there  any 
thing  or  anybody  that  can  ?  " 

She  slowly  looked  away. 

11  Miss  Leavenworth,"  I  continued  with  renewed 
earnestness,  **  you  have  no  brother  to  plead  with  you, 
you  have  no  mother  to  guide  you;  let  me  then  entreat, 
in  default  of  nearer  and  dearer  friends,  that  you  will 
rely  sufficiently  upon  me  to  tell  me  one  thing." 

"What  is  it?"  she  asked. 


The  Problem  121 

"  Whether  you  took  the  paper  imputed  to  you  from 
the  library  table?" 

She  did  not  instantly  respond,  but  sat  looking  ear 
nestly  before  her  with  an  intentness  which  seemed  to 
argue  that  she  was  weighing  the  question  as  well  as  her 
reply,  Finally,  turning  toward  me,  she  said  : 

4  *  In  answering  you,  I  speak  in  confidence.  Mr. 
Raymond,  I  did." 

Crushing  back  the  sigh  of  despair  that  arose  to  my 
lips,  I  went  on. 

"  I  will  not  inquire  what  the  paper  was," — she  waved 
her  hand  deprecatingly, — "  but  this  much  more  yon 
will  tell  me.  Is  that  paper  still  in  existence  ?  " 

She  looked  me  steadily  in  the  face. 

"  It  is  not." 

I  could  with  difficulty  forbear  showing  my  disappoint 
ment.  "  Miss  L,eavenworth,"  I  now  said,  "  it  may 
seem  cruel  for  me  to  press  you  at  this  time  ;  nothing 
less  than  my  strong  realization  of  the  peril  in  which 
you  stand  would  induce  me  to  run  the  risk  of  incur 
ring  your  displeasure  b}'  asking  what  under  other  cir 
cumstances  would  seem  puerile  and  insulting  questions. 
You  have  told  me  one  thing  which  I  strongly  desired 
to  know;  will  you  also  inform  me  what  it  was  you  heard 
that  night  while  sitting  in  your  room,  between  the  time 
of  Mr.  Harwell's  going  up-stairs  and  the  closing  of  the 
library  door,  of  which  you  made  mention  at  the 
inquest  ?  " 

I  had  pushed  my  inquiries  too  far,  and  I  saw  it 
immediately. 

"  Mr.  Raymond,"  she  returned,  "  influenced  by  my 
desire  not  to  appear  utterly  ungrateful  to  you,  I  have 
been  led  to  reply  in  confidence  to  one  of  your  urgent 
appeals  ;  but  I  can  go  no  further.  Do  not  ask  me  to." 


122          The  Leavenworth  Case 

Stricken  to  the  heart  by  her  look  of  reproach,  I  an 
swered  with  some  sadness  that  her  wishes  should  be 
respected.  "  Not  but  what  I  intend  to  make  every 
effort  in  my  power  to  discover  the  true  author  of  this 
crime.  That  is  a  sacred  duty  which  I  feel  myself 
called  upon  to  perform  ;  but  I  wUl  ask  you  no  more 
questions,  nor  distress  you  with  further  appeals.  What 
is  done  shall  be  done  without  your  assistance,  and  with 
no  other  hope  than  that  in  the  event  of  my  success  you 
will  acknowledge  my  motives  to  have  been  pure  and 
my  action  disinterested." 

"  I  am  ready  to  acknowledge  that  now,"  she  began, 
but  paused  and  looked  with  almost  agonized  entreaty 
in  my  face.  "  Mr.  Raymond,  cannot  you  leave  things 
as  they  are  ?  Won't  you  ?  I  don't  ask  for  assistance, 
nor  do  I  want  it ;  I-would  rather } ' 

But  I  would  not  listen.  "  Guilt  has  no  right  to 
profit  by  the  generosity  of  the  guiltless.  The  hand 
that  struck  this  blow  shall  not  be  accountable  for  the 
loss  of  a  noble  woman's  honor  and  happiness  as  well. 
I  shall  do  what  I  can,  Miss  Leavenworth." 

As  I  walked  down  the  avenue  that  night,  feeling 
like  an  adventurous  traveller  that  in  a  moment  of 
desperation  has  set  his  foot  upon  a  plank  stretching  in 
narrow  perspective  over  a  chasm  of  immeasurable 
depth,  this  problem  evolved  itself  from  the  shadows 
before  me  :  How,  with  no  other  clue  than  the  persua 
sion  that  Eleanore  Leavenworth  was  engaged  in  shield 
ing  another  at  the  expense  of  her  own  good  name,  I 
was  to  combat  the  prejudices  of  Mr.  Gryce,  find  out  the 
real  assassin  of  Mr.  Leavenworth,  and  free  an  innocent 
woman  from  the  suspicion  that  had,  not  without  some 
show  of  reason,  fallen  upon  her  ? 


BOOK  II 

HENRY  CLAVERINO 
XIV 

JIR.   GRYCE  AT  HOME 

"Nay,  but  hear  me." 

Measure  for  Measure. 

THA"f  the  guilty  person  for  whpn*Eleanore  Leaven- 
worth  stood  ready  to  sacrifice  herself  was  one  for 
whom  she  had  formerly  cherished  affection,  I  could  no 
longer  doubt ;  love,  or  the  strong  sense  of  duty  growing 
out  of  love,  being  alone  sufficient  to  account  for  such 
determined  action.  Obnoxious  as  it  was  to  all  my  pre 
judices,  one  name  alone,  that  of  the  commonplace 
secretary,  with  his  sudden  heats  and  changeful  man 
ners,  his  odd  ways  and  studied  self-possession,  would 
recur  to  my  mind  whenever  I  asked  myself  who  this 
person  could  be. 

Not  that,  without  the  light  which  had  been  thrown 
upon  the  affair  by  Eleanore's  strange  behavior,  I  should 
have  selected  this  man  as  one  in  any  way  open  to  sus 
picion;  the  peculiarity  of  his  manner  at  the  inquest  not 
being  marked  enough  to  counteract  the  improbability 
of  one  in  his  relations  to  the  deceased  finding  sufficient 
motive  for  a  crime  so  manifestly  without  favorable  re 
sults  to  himself.  But  if  love  had  entered  as  a  factor 

123 


124          The  Leavenworth  Case 

into  the  affair,  what  might  not  be  expected?  James 
Harwell,  simple  amanuensis  to  a  retired  tea-merchant, 
was  one  man  ;  James  Harwell,  swayed  by  passion  for  a 
woman  beautiful  as  Eleanore  Leavenworth,  was  an 
other;  and  in  placing  him  upon  the  list  of  those  parties 
open  to  suspicion  I  felt  I  was  only  doing  what  was 
warranted  by  a  proper  consideration  of  probabilities. 

But,  between  casual  suspicion  and  actual  proof,  what 
a  gulf !  To  believe  James  Harwell  capable  of  guilt, 
and  to  find  evidence  enough  to  accuse  him  of  it,  were 
two  very  different  things.  I  felt  myself  instinctively 
shrink  from  the  task,  before  I  had  fully  made  up  my 
mind  to  attempt  it ;  some  relenting  thought  of  his  un 
happy  position,  if  innocent,  forcing  itself  upon  me,  and 
making  my  very  distrust  of  him  seem  personally  un 
generous  if  not  absolutely  unjust.  If  I  had  liked  the 
man  better,  I  should  not  have  been  so  ready  to  look 
upon  him  with  doubt. 

But  Kleanore  must  be  saved  at  all  hazards.  Once 
delivered  up  to  the  blight  of  suspicion,  who  could  tell 
what  the  result  might  be  ?  the  arrest  of  her  person  per 
haps, — a  thing  which,  once  accomplished,  would  cast  a 
shadow  over  her  young  life  that  it  would  take  more 
than  time  to  dispel.  The  accusation  of  an  impecunious 
secretary  would  be  less  horrible  than  this.  I  deter- 
mined  to  make  an  early  call  upon  Mr.  Gryce. 

Meanwhile  the  contrasted  pictures  of  Kleanore  stand 
ing  with  her  hand  upon  the  breast  of  the  dead,  her  face 
upraised  and  mirroring  a  glory,  I  could  not  recall  with 
out  emotion  ;  and  Mary,  fleeing  a  short  half-hour  later 
indignantly  from  her  presence,  haunted  me  and  kept 
me  awake  long  after  midnight.  It  was  like  a  double 
vision  of  light  and  darkness  that,  while  contrasting, 
neither  assimilated  nor  harmonized,  I  could  not  flee 


Henry  Clavering  125 

from  it.  Do  what  I  would,  the  two  pictures  followed 
me,  filling  my  soul  with  alternate  hope  and  distrust, 
till  I  knew  not  whether  to  place  my  hand  with  Eleanore 
on  the  breast  of  the  dead,  and  swear  implicit  faith 
in  her  truth  and  purity,  or  to  turn  my  face  like  Mary, 
and  fly  from  what  I  could  neither  comprehend  nor 
reconcile. 

Expectant  of  difficulty,  I  started  next  morning  upon 
my  search  for  Mr.  Gryce,  with  strong  determination 
not  to  allow  myself  to  become  flurried  by  disappoint 
ment  nor  discouraged  by  premature  failure.  My  busi 
ness  was  to  save  Eleanore  I/eavenworth ;  and  to  do  that, 
it  was  necessary  for  me  to  preserve,  not  only  my  equa 
nimity,  but  my  self-possession.  The  worst  fear  I 
anticipated  was  that  matters  would  reach  a  crisis  be 
fore  I  could  acquire  the  right,  or  obtain  the  opportunity, 
to  interfere.  However,  the  fact  of  Mr.  Leavenworth's 
funeral  being  announced  for  that  day  gave  me  some 
comfort  in  that  direction  ;  my  knowledge  of  Mr.  Gryce 
being  sufficient,  as  I  thought,  to  warrant  me  in  believ« 
itig  he  would  wait  til!  after  that  ceremony  before  pro 
ceeding  to  extreme  measures. 

I  do  not  know  that  I  had  any  very  definite  ideas  of  ' 
what  a  detective's  home  should  be  ±  but  when  I  stood 
before  the  neat  three-story  brick  house  to  which  I  had 
been  directed,  I  could  not  but  acknowledge  there  was 
something  in  the  aspect  of  its  half-open  shutters,  over 
closely  drawn  curtains  of  spotless  purity,  highly  sug-/ 
gestive  of  the  character  of  its  inmate. 

A  pale-looking  youth,  with  vivid  locks  of  red  hair 
hanging  straight  down  over  either  ear,  answered  my 
rather  nervous  ring.  To  my  inquiry  as  to  whether  Mr. 
Gryce  was  in,  he  gave  a  kind  of  snort  which  might  have 
meant  no,  but  which  I  took  to  mean  yes. 


126          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  My  name  is  Raymond,  and  I  wish  to  see  him." 

He  gave  me  one  glance  that  took  in  every  detail  of 
my  person  and  apparel,  and  pointed  to  a  door  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs.  Not  waiting  for  further  directions, 
I  hastened  up,  knocked  at  the  door  he  had  designated, 
and  went  in.  The  broad  back  of  Mr.  Gryce,  stooping 
above  a  desk  that  might  have  come  over  in  the  May- 
flower,  confronted  me. 

"  Well !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  this  is  an  honor."  And 
rising,  he  opened  with  a  squeak  and  shut  with  a  bang 
the  door  of  an  enormous  stove  that  occupied  the  centre 
of  the  room.  '*  Rather  chilly  daj^,  eh  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  returned,  eyeing  him  closely  to  see  if  he 
was  in  a  communicative  mood.  "  But  I  have  had  but 
little  time  to  consider  the  state  of  the  weather.  My 
anxiety  in  regard  to  this  murder " 

"  To  be  sure,"  he  interrupted,  fixing  his  eyes  upon 
the  poker,  though  not  with  any  hostile  intention,  I  am 
sure.  "  A  puzzling  piece  of  business  enough.  But 
perhaps  it  is  an  open  book  to  you.  I  see  you  have 
something  to  communicate. ' ' 

'*  I  have,  though  I  doubt  if  it  is  of  the  nature  you 
expect.  Mr.  Gryce,  since  I  saw  you  last,  my  convic 
tions  upon  a  certain  point  have  been  strengthened  into 
an  absolute  belief.  The  object  of  your  suspicions  is  an 
innocent  woman." 

If  I  had  expected  him  to  betray  any  surprise  at  this, 
I  was  destined  to  be  disappointed.  "  That  is  a  very 
pleasing  belief,"  he  observed.  "  I  honor  you  for  enter 
taining  it,  Mr.  Raymond." 

I  suppressed  a  movement  of  anger.  "  So  thoroughly 
is  it  mine,"  I  went  on,  in  the  determination  to 
arouse  him  in  some  way,  "  that  I  have  come  here 
to-day  to  ask  you  in  the  name  of  justice  and  common 


Henry  Clavering  127 

humanity  to  suspend  action  in  that  direction  till  we 
can  convince  ourselves  there  is  no  truer  scent  to  go 
upon." 

But  there  was  no  more  show  of  curiosity  than  before. 
"  Indeed  !  "  he  cried  ;  "  that  is  a  singular  request  to 
come  from  a  man  like  you." 

I  was  not  to  be  discomposed.  "  Mr.  Gryce,"  I  went 
on,  "  a  woman's  name,  once  tarnished,  remains  so  for 
ever.  Eleanore  Leavenworth  has  too  many  noble  traits 
to  be  thoughtlessly  dealt  with  in  so  momentous  a  crisis. 
If  you  will  give  me  your  attention,  I  promise  you  shall 
not  regret  it." 

He  smiled,  and  allowed  his  eyes  to  roam  from  the 
poker  to  the  arm  of  my  chair.  "  Very  well,"  he  re 
marked  ;  ' '  I  hear  you  ;  say  on. ' ' 

I  drew  my  notes  from  my  pocketbook,  and  laid  them 
on  the  table. 

"  What !  memoranda  ?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Unsafe, 
very  ;  never  put  your  plans  on  paper." 

Taking  no  heed  of  the  interruption,  I  went  on. 

"  Mr.  Gryce,  I  have  had  fuller  opportunities  than 
yourself  for  studying  this  woman.  I  have  seen  her  in 
a  position  which  no  guilty  person  could  occupy,  and  I 
am  assured,  beyond  all  doubt,  that  not  only  her  hands, 
but  her  heart,  are  pure  from  this  crime.  She  may  have 
some  knowledge  of  its  secrets  ;  that  I  do  not  presume 
to  deny.  The  key  seen  in  her  possession  would  refute 
me  if  I  did.  But  what  if  she  has  ?  You  can  never 
wish  to  see  so  lovely  a  being  brought  to  shame  for 
withholding  information  which  she  evidently  considers 
it  her  duty  to  keep  back,  when  by  a  little  patient  finesse 
we  may  succeed  in  our  purposes  without  it." 

"  But,"  interposed  the  detective,  "  say  this  is 
so ;  how  are  we  to  arrive  at  the  knowledge  we  want 


128          The  Leavenworth  Case 

without  following  out  the  only  clue  which  has  yet 
been  given  us?  " 

;<  You  will  never  reach  it  by  following  out  any  clue 
given  you  by  Kleanore  Leavenworth.*' 

His  e}'rebrows  lifted  expressively,  but  he  said  nothing. 

"  Miss  Eleanore  Leavenworth  has  been  used  by 
some  one  acquainted  with  her  firmness,  generosity,  and 
perhaps  love.  Let  us  discover  who  possesses  sufficient 
power  over  her  to  control  her  to  this  extent,  and  we 
find  the  man  we  seek." 

"  Humph!  "  came  from  Mr.  Gryce's compressed  lips, 
and  no  more. 

Determined  that  he  should  speak,  I  waited. 

"  You  have,  then,  some  one  in  your  mind  ";  he  re 
marked  at  last,  almost  flippantly. 

"  I  mention  no  names,"  I  returned.  **  All  I  want 
is  further  time." 

'  You  are,  then,  intending  to  make  a  personal  busi 
ness  of  this  matter  ?  " 

"  I  am." 

He  gave  a  long,  low  whistle.  "  May  I  ask,"  he  in 
quired  at  length,  "  whether  you  expect  to  work  entirely 
b}'  yourself;  or  whether,  if  a  suitable  coadjutor  were 
provided,  you  would  disdain  his  assistance  and  slight 
his  advice?  " 

"  I  desire  nothing  more  than  to  have  you  for  my 
colleague." 

The  smile  upon  his  face  deepened  ironically,  '*  You 
must  feel  very  sure  of  yourself !  * '  said  he. 

f<  I  am  very  sure  of  Miss  Leavenworth." 

The  reply  seemed  to  please  him.  * '  Let  us  hear  what 
you  propose  doing." 

I  did  not  immediately  answer.  The  truth  was,  I  had 
formed  no  plans. 


Henry  Clavering  129 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  he  continued,  "  that  you  have 
undertaken  a  rather  difficult  task  for  an  amateur.  Bet 
ter  leave  it  to  me,  Mr.  Raymond  ;  better  leave  it  to 
me." 

"  I  am  sure,"  I  returned,  "  that  nothing  would  please 
me  better " 

"  Not,"  he  interrupted,  "  but  that  a  word  from  you 
now  and  then  would  be  welcome.  I  am  not  an  egotist. 
I  am  open  to  suggestions  :  as,  for  instance,  now,  if  you 
could  conveniently  inform  me  of  all  you  have  yourself 
seen  and  heard  in  regard  to  this  matter,  I  should  be 
most  happy  to  listen." 

Relieved  to  find  him  so  amenable,  I  asked  myself 
what  I  really  had  to  tell ;  not  so  much  that  he  would 
consider  vital.  However,  it  would  not  do  to  hesitate 
now. 

"  Mr.  Gryce,"  said  I,  "  I  have  but  few  facts  to  add 
to  those  already  known  to  you.  Indeed,  I  am  more 
moved  by  convictions  than  facts.  That  Kleanore 
Leavenworth  never  committed  this  crime,  I  am  assured. 
That,  on  the  other  hand,  the  real  perpetrator  is  known 
to  her,  I  am  equally  certain  ;  and  that  for  some  reason 
she  considers  it  a  sacred  duty  to  shield  the  assassin,  even 
at  the  risk  of  her  own  safety,  follows  as  a  matter  of 
course  from  the  facts.  Now,  with  such  data,  it  cannot 
be  a  very  difficult  task  for  you  or  roe  to  work  out  satis 
factorily,  to  our  own  minds  at  least,  who  this  person  can 
be.  A  little  more  knowledge  of  the  family " 

"  You  know  nothing  of  its  secret  history,  then  ?  " 

"  Nothing." 

"  Do  not  even  know  whether  either  of  these  girls  is 
engaged  to  be  married  ?  '  * 

r    "  I  do  not,"  I  returned,  wincing  at  this  direct 
i  pression  of  my  own  thought! 
V>    * 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


?—  *  He  remained  a  moment  silent.     "  Mr.  Raymond,*" 

I  he  cried  at  last,  "  have  you  any  idea  of  the  disadvan 

tages  under  which  a  detective  labors  ?    For  instance, 

now,  you  imagine  I  can  insinuate  myself  into  all  sorts 

of  society,  perhaps;  but  you  are  mistaken.     Strange  as 

it  may  appear,  I  have  never  by  any  possibility  of  means 

succeeded  with  one  class  of  persons  at  all.     I  cannot 

pass  myself  off  for  a  gentleman,     Tailors  and  barbers 

{    are  no  good  ;  I  am  always  found  out." 

He  looked  so  dejected  I  could  scarcely  forbear  smil 
ing,  notwithstanding  my  secret  care  and  anxiety. 

*'  I  have  even  employed  a  French  valet,  who  under 
stood  dancing  and  whiskers  ;  but  it  was  all  of  no  avail. 
The  first  gentleman  I  approached  stared  at  me,  —  real 
gentleman,  I  mean,  none  of  your  American  dandies,  — 
and  I  had  no  stare  to  return  ;  I  had  forgotten  that 
emergency  in  my  confabs  with  Pierre  Camille  Marie 
Make-face." 

Amused,  but  a  little  discomposed  by  this  sudden  turn 
in  the  conversation,  I  looked  at  Mr.  Gryce  inquiring^. 

"  Now  you,  I  dare  say,  have  no  trouble  ?  Was  born 
one,  perhaps.  Can  even  ask  a  lady  to  dance  without 
blushing,  eh  ?  " 

"  Weil,—  "  I  commenced. 

4<  Just  so,"  he  replied;  "  now,  I  can't  I  can  enter  z 
house,  bow  to  the  mistress  of  it,  let  her  be  as  elegant 
as  she  will,  so  long  as  I  have  a  writ  of  arrest  in  my 
hand,  or  some  such  professional  matter  upon  my  mind; 
but  when  it  comes  to  visiting  in  kid  gloves,  raising  a 
glass  of  champagne  in  response  to  a  toast  —  and  such 
like,  I  am  absolutely  good  for  nothing."  And  he 
plunged  his  two  hands  into  his  hair,  and  looked  dole 
fully  at  the  head  of  the  cane  I  carried  in  my  hand. 
"  But  it  is  much  the  same  with  the  whole  of  us.  When 


Henry  Clavering  231 

we  are  in  want  of  a  gentleman  to  work  for  us,  we  have 
to  go  outside  of  our  profession." 

I  began  to  see  what  he  was  driving  at ;  but  held  my 
peace,  vaguely  conscious  I  was  likely  to  prove  a  neces 
sity  to  him,  after  all. 

"  Mr.  Raymond,"  he  now  said,  almost  abruptly ;  "  do 
you  know  a  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Clavering  resid 
ing  at  present  at  the  Hoffman  House  ?  '  * 

"  Not  that  I  am  aware  of." 

"He  is  very  polished  in  his  manners  ;  would  you 
mind  making  his  acquaintance  ?  " 

I  followed  Mr.  Gryce's  example,  and  stared  at  the 
chimney-piece.  "  I  cannot  answer  till  I  understand 
matters  a  little  better,"  I  returned  at  length. 

"  There  is  not  much  to  understand.  Mr.  Henry 
Clavering,  a  gentleman  and  a  man  of  the  world,  resides 
at  the  Hoffman  House.  He  is  a  stranger  in  town, 
without  being  strange  ;  drives,  walks,  smokes,  but 
never  visits  ;  looks  at  the  ladies,  but  is  never  seen  to 
bow  to  one.  In  short,  a  person  whom  it  is  desirable  to 
know;  but  whom,  being  a  proud  man,  with  something 
of  the  old-world  prejudice  against  Yankee  freedom  and 
forwardness,  I  could  no  more  approach  in  the  way  of 
acquaintance  than  I  could  the  Emperor  of  Austria." 

"  And  you  wish " 

"  He  would  make  a  very  agreeable  companion  for  a 
rising  young  lawyer  of  good  family  and  undoubted 
respectability.  I  have  no  doubt,  if  you  undertook  to 
cultivate  him,  you  would  find  him  well  worth  the 
trouble." 

«  But " 

"  Might  even  desire  to  take  him  into  familiar  relaA 
tions  ;  to  confide  in  him,  and " 

<c  Mr.  Gryce,"  I  hastily  interrupted;  "  I  can  never 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


I'  consent  to  plot  for  any  man's  friendship  for  the  sake  of 
betraying  him  to  the  police." 

"  It  is  essential  to  your  plans  to  make  the  acquaint 
ance  of  Mr.  Clavering,"  he  dryly  replied. 

"Oh!**  I  returned,  a  light  breaking  in  upon  me; 
M  he  has  some  connection  with  this  case,  then  ?  " 

Mr.  Gryce  smoothed  his  coat-sleeve  thoughtfully. 
"  I  don't  know  as  it  will  be  necessary  for  you  to  betray 
him.  You  would  n't  object  to  being  introduced  to 
him  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Nor,  if  you  found  him  pleasant,  to  converse  with 
him?" 

"No." 

"  Not  even  if,  in  the  course  of  conversation,  you 
should  come  across  something  that  might  serve  as  a 
clue  in  your  efforts  to  save  Kleanore  Leavenworth  ?  " 

The  no  I  uttered  this  time  was  less  assured  ;  the  part 
of  a  spy  was  the  very  last  one  I  desired  to  play  in  the 
coming  drama. 

"  Well,  then,"  he  went  on,  ignoring  the  doubtful 
tone  in  which  my  assent  had  been  given,  f<  I  advise 
you  to  immediately  take  up  your  quarters  at  the 
Hoffman  House." 

"  I  doubt  if  that  would  do,"  I  said.  "  If  I  am  not 
mistaken,  I  have  already  seen  this  gentleman,  and 
spoken  to  him." 

"  Where?" 

54  Describe  him  first." 

"  Well,  he  is  tall,  finely  formed,  of  very  upright  car« 
riage,  with  a  handsome  dark  face,  brown  hair  streaked 
with  gray,  a  piercing  eye,  and  a  smooth  address.  A 
very  imposing  personage,  I  assure  3^ou." 

M  I  have   reason   to   think    I  have  seen  him/*   I 


Henry  Clavering  133 

returned  ;   and  in  a  few  words  told  him  when  and 
where. 

"  Humph  !  "  said  he  at  the  conclusion  ;  "  he  is  evi 
dently  as  much  interested  in  you  as  we  are  in  him. 
How  's  that  ?  I  think  I  see,"  he  added,  after  a  mo 
ment's  thought.  "  Pity  you  spoke  to  him  ;  may  have 
created  an  unfavorable  impression;  and  everything 
depends  upon  your  meeting  without  any  distrust." 

He  rose  and  paced  the  floor. 

11  Well,  we  must  move  slowly,  that  is  all.  Give  him\ 
a  chance  to  see  you  in  other  and  better  lights.  Drop 
into  the  Hoffman  House  reading-room.  Talk  with  the 
best  men  you  meet  while  there;  but  not  too  much,  or 
too  indiscriminately.  Mr.  Clavering  is  fastidious,  and 
will  not  feel  honored  by  the  attentions  of  one  who  is 
hail-fellow-well-met  with  everybody.  Show  yourself 
for  what  you  are,  and  leave  all  advances  to  him  ;  he  '11 
make  them." 

"  Supposing  we  are  under  a  mistake,  and  the  man  I 
met  on  the  corner  of  Thirty-seventh  Street  was  not  Mr. 
Clavering?" 

" 1  should  be  greatly  surprised,  that  's  all." 

Not  knowing  what  further  objection  to  make,  I  re 
mained  silent. 

* '  And  this  head  of  mine  would  have  to  put  on  its 
thinking-cap,"  he  pursued  jovially. 

"  Mr.  Gryce,"  I  now  said,  anxious  to  show  that  all 
this  talk  about  an  unknown  party  had  not  served  to 
put  my  own  plans  from  my  mind,  *  *  there  is  one  person 
of  whom  we  have  not  spoken." 

"  No  ?  "  he  exclaimed  softly,  wheeling  around  until 
his  broad  back  confronted  me.  "  And  who  may  that 
be?" 

'*  Why,  who  but  Mr. — "     I  could  get  no  further. 


134          The  Leavenworth  Case 

What  right  had  I  to  mention  any  man's  name  in  this 
connection,  without  possessing  sufficient  evidence 
against  him  to  make  such  mention  justifiable  ?  "I  beg 
your  pardon,"  said  I;  "  but  I  think  I  will  hold  to  my 
first  impulse,  and  speak  no  names." 

"  Harwell  ?  "  he  ejaculated  easily. 

The  quick  blush  rising  to  my  face  gave  an  involun 
tary  assent. 

"  I  see  no  reason  why  we  should  n't  speak  of  him,'' 
he  went  on;  "  that  is,  if  there  is  anything  to  be  gained 
by  it." 

"  His  testimony  at  the  inquest  was  honest,  you 
think?" 

"  It  has  not  been  disproved." 

"  He  is  a  peculiar  man." 

"  And  so  am  I." 

I  felt  myself  slightly  nonplussed;  and,  conscious  of 
appearing  at  a  disadvantage,  lifted  my  hat  from  the 
table  and  prepared  to  take  my  leave;  but,  suddenly 
thinking  of  Hannah,  turned  and  asked  if  there  was  any 
news  of  her. 

He  seemed  to  debate  with  himself,  hesitating  so  long 
that  I  began  to  doubt  if  this  man  intended  to  confide 
in  me,  after  all,  when  suddenly  he  brought  his  two 
hands  down  before  him  and  exclaimed  vehemently  : 

II  The  evil  one  himself  is  in  this  business!     If  the 
earth   had  opened  and  swallowed  up  this  girl,  she 
could  n't  have  more  effectually  disappeared." 

I  experienced  a  sinking  of  the  heart.  Kleanore  had 
said  :  "  Hannah  can  do  nothing  for  me."  Could  it  be 
that  the  girl  was  indeed  gone,  and  forever  ? 

"  I  have  innumerable  agents  at  work,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  general  public;  and  yet  not  so  much  as  a  whis 
per  has  come  to  me  in  regard  to  her  whereabouts  01 


Henry  Clavering  135 

situation.  I  am  only  afraid  we  shall  find  her  floating 
in  the  river  some  fine  morning,  without  a  confession  in 
her  pocket." 

"  Everything  hangs  upon  that  girl's  testimony,"  I 
remarked. 

He  gave  a  short  grunt.  '  *  What  does  Miss  I,eaven- 
worth  say  about  it  ?  " 

"  That  the  girl  cannot  help  her." 

I  thought  he  looked  a  trifle  surprised  at  this,  but  he 
covered  it  with  a  nod  and  an  exclamation.  "  She  must 
be  found  for  all  that,"  said  he,  "  and  shall,  if  I  have 
to  send  out  Q." 

"Q?" 

"  An  agent  of  mine  who  is  a  living  interrogation 
point ;  so  we  call  him  Q,  which  is  short  for  query." 
Then,  as  I  turned  again  to  go:  "  When  the  contents  of 
the  will  are  made  known,  come  to  me." 

The  will !    I  had  forgotten  the  will. 


XV 

WAYS   OPENING 

c'It  is  not  and  it  cannot  come  to  good." 

Hamlet. 

I  ATTENDED  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Leavenworth,  but 
did  not  see  the  ladies  before  or  after  the  ceremony. 
I,  however,  had  a  few  moments'  conversation  with 
Mr.  Harwell  ;  which,  without  eliciting  anything  new, 
provided  me  with  food  for  abundant  conjecture.  For 
he  had  asked,  almost  at  first  greeting,  if  I  had  seen  the 
Telegram  of the  night  before;  and  when  I  responded  in 
the  affirmative,  turned  such  a  look  of  mingled  distress 
and  appeal  upon  me,  I  was  tempted  to  ask  how  such  a 
frightful  insinuation  against  a  young  lady  of  reputation 
and  breeding  could  ever  have  got  into  the  papers.  It 
was  his  reply  that  struck  me. 

1 '  That  the  guilty  party  might  be  driven  by  remorse 
to  own  himself  the  true  culprit. ' ' 

A  curious  remark  to  come  from  a  person  who  had  no 
knowledge  or  suspicion  of  the  criminal  and  his  char 
acter;  and  I  would  have  pushed  the  conversation  fur 
ther,  but  the  secretary,  who  was  a  man  of  few  words, 
drew  off  at  this,  and  could  be  induced  to  say  no  more. 
Evidently  it  was  my  business  to  cultivate  Mr.Clavering, 
or  any  one  else  who  could  throw  any  light  upon  the 
secret  history  of  these  girls. 

That  evening  I  received  notice  that  Mr.  Veeley  had 
136 


Henry  Clavering  137 

arrived  home,  but  was  in  no  condition  to  consult  with 
me  upon  so  painful  a  subject  as  the  murder  of  Mr. 
Leaven  worth.  Also  a  line  from  Kleanore,  giving  me 
her  address,  but  requesting  me  at  the  same  time  not  to 
call  unless  I  had  something  of  importance  to  communi 
cate,  as  she  was  too  ill  to  receive  visitors.  The  little 
note  affected  me.  Ill,  alone,  and  in  a  strange  home,-— 
't  was  pitiful  ! 

The  next  day,  pursuant  to  the  wishes  of  Mr.  Gryce, 
I  stepped  into  the  Hoffman  House,  and  took  a  seat  in 
the  reading  room.  I  had  been  there  but  a  few  moments 
when  a  gentleman  entered  whom  I  immediately  recog 
nized  as  the  same  I  had  spoken  to  on  the  corner  of 
Thirty-seventh  Street  and  Sixth  Avenue.  He  must 
have  remembered  me  also,  for  he  seemed  to  be  slightly 
embarrassed  at  seeing  me ;  but,  recovering  himself,  took 
up  a  paper  and  soon  became  to  all  appearance  lost  in 
its  contents,  though  I  could  feel  his  handsome  black 
eye  upon  me,  studying  my  features,  figure,  apparel,  and 
movements  with  a  degree  of  interest  which  equally 
astonished  and  disconcerted  me.  I  felt  that  it  would  be 
injudicious  on  my  part  to  return  his  scrutiny,  anxious 
as  I  was  to  meet  his  eye  and  learn  what  emotion  had  so 
fired  his  curiosity  in  regard  to  a  perfect  stranger  ;  so  I 
rose,  and,  crossing  to  an  old  friend  of  mine  who  sat  at 
a  table  opposite,  commenced  a  desultory  conversation, 
in  the  course  of  which  I  took  occasion  to  ask  if  he  knew 
who  the  handsome  stranger  was.  Dick  Furbish  was  a 
society  man,  and  knew  everybody. 

' '  His  name  is  Clavering,  and  he  comes  from  London. 
I  don't  know  anything  more  about  him,  though  he  is 
to  be  seen  everywhere  except  in  private  houses.  He 
has  not  been  received  into  society  yet ;  waiting  for  let 
ters  of  introduction,  perhaps, " 

I 


138  The  Leavenworth  Case 

11  A  gentleman  ?  " 

"  Undoubtedly." 

"  One  you  speak  to  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  I  talk  to  him,  but  the  conversation  is 
very  one-sided." 

I  could  not  help  smiling  at  the  grimace  with  which 
Dick  accompanied  this  remark.  "  Which  same  goes  to 
prove,"  he  went  on,  "  that  he  is  the  real  thing." 

Laughing  outright  this  time,  I  left  him,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  sauntered  from  the  room. 

As  I  mingled  again  with  the  crowd  on  Broadway,  I 
found  myself  wondering  immensely  over  this  slight 
experience.  That  this  unknown  gentleman  from  Lon 
don,  who  went  everywhere  except  into  private  houses, 
could  be  in  any  way  connected  with  the  affair  I 
had  so  at  heart,  seemed  not  only  improbable  but 
absurd;  and  for  the  first  time  I  felt  tempted  to  doubt 
the  sagacity  of  Mr.  Gryce  in  recommending  him  to  my 
attention. 

The  next  day  I  repeated  the  experiment,  but  with 
no  greater  success  than  before.  Mr.  Clavering  came 
Into  the  room,  but,  seeing  me,  did  not  remain.  I  began 
to  realize  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  make  his  acquaint 
ance.  To  atone  for  my  disappointment,  I  called  on 
Mary  Leavenworth  in  the  evening.  She  received  me 
with  almost  a  sister-like  familiarity. 

"  Ah,"  she  cried,  after  introducing  me  to  an  elderly 
lady  at  her  side,  —  some  connection  of  the  family,  I 
believe,  who  had  come  to  remain  with  her  for  a  while, 
— '  *  you  are  here  to  tell  me  Hannah  is  found  ;  is  it  not 
so?" 

I  shook  my  head,  sorry  to  disappoint  her.  "  No," 
said  I;  "  not  yet." 

"  But  Mr.  Gryce  was  here  to-day,  and  he  told  me  he 


Henry  Clavering  139 

hoped  she  would  be  heard  from  within  twenty-four 
hours." 

"  Mr.  Grycehere!" 

* '  Yes  ;  came  to  report  how  matters  were  progressing, 
—  not  that  they  seemed  to  have  advanced  very  far.*' 

"  You  could  hardly  have  expected  that  yet.  You 
must  not  be  so  easily  discouraged." 

"  But  I  cannot  help  it  ;  every  day,  every  hour  that 
passes  in  this  uncertainty,  is  like  a  mountain  weight 
here"  ;  and  she  laid  one  trembling  hand  upon  her 
bosom.  "  I  would  have  the  whole  world  at  work.  I 
would  leave  no  stone  unturned;  I " 

"What  would  you  do  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,"  she  cried,  her  whole  manner 
suddenly  changing  ;  "  nothing,  perhaps."  Then,  be 
fore  I  could  reply  to  this  :  "  Have  you  seen  Bleanore 
to-day  ?  " 

I  answered  in  the  negative. 

She  did  not  seem  satisfied,  but  waited  till  her  friend 
left  the  room  before  saying  more.  Then,  with  an  earn 
est  look,  inquired  if  I  knew  whether  Eleanore  was  well. 

"  I  fear  she  is  not,"  I  returned. 

"It  is  a  great  trial  to  me,  Eleanore  being  away. 
Not,"  she  resumed,  noting,  perhaps,  my  incredulous 
look,  "  that  I  would  have  you  think  I  wish  to  disclaim 
my  share  in  bringing  about  the  present  unhappy  state 
of  things.  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  I  was  the  first 
to  propose  a  separation.  But  it  is  none  the  easier  to 
bear  on  that  account." 

"  It  is  not  as  hard  for  you  as  for  her,"  said  I. 

"  Not  as  hard  ?  Why  ?  because  she  is  left  compara 
tively  poor,  while  I  am  rich  —  is  that  what  you  would 
say  ?  Ah,"  she  went  on,  without  waiting  for  my  an 
swer,  "  would  I  could  persuade  Eleanore  to  share  my 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


riches  with  me!  Willingly  would  I  bestow  upon  her 
the  half  I  have  received  ;  but  I  fear  she  could  never  be 
induced  to  accept  so  much  as  a  dollar  from  me." 

"  Under  the  circumstances  it  would  be  better  for  her 
not  to.'* 

"Just  what  I  thought  ;  yet  it  would  ease  me  of  a 
great  weight  if  she  would.  This  fortune,  suddenly 
thrown  into  my  lap,  sits  like  an  incubus  upon  me,  Mr. 
Raymond.  When  the  will  was  read  to-day  which 
makes  me  possessor  of  so  much  wealth,  I  could  not  but 
feel  that  a  heavy,  blinding  pall  had  settled  upon  me, 
spotted  with  blood  and  woven  of  horrors.  Ah,  how 
different  from  the  feelings  with  which  I  have  been 
accustomed  to  anticipate  this  day  !  For,  Mr.  Ray 
mond,"  she  went  on,  with  a  hurried  gasp,  "  dreadful 
as  it  seems  now,  I  have  been  reared  to  look  forward  to 
this  hour  with  pride,  if  not  with  actual  longing. 
Money  has  been  made  so  much  of  in  my  small  world. 
Not  that  I  wish  in  this  evil  time  of  retribution  to  lay 
blame  upon  any  one;  least  of  all  upon  my  uncle;  but 
from  the  day,  twelve  years  ago,  when  for  the  first  time 
he  took  us  in  his  arms,  and  looking  down  upon  our 
childish  faces,  exclaimed  :  *  The  light-haired  one  pleases 
me  best  ;  she  shall  be  my  heiress,'  I  have  been  petted, 
cajoled,  and  spoiled  ;  called  little  princess,  and  uncle's 
darling,  till  it  is  only  strange  I  retain  in  this  prejudiced 
breast  any  of  the  impulses  of  generous  womanhood  ; 
yes,  though  I  was  aware  from  the  first  that  whim  alone 
had  raised  this  distinction  between  myself  and  cousin  ; 
a  distinction  which  superior  beauty,  worth,  or  accom 
plishments  could  never  have  drawn;  Kleanore  being 
more  than  my  equal  in  all  these  things."  Pausing, 
she  choked  back  the  sudden  sob  that  rose  in  her  throat, 
with  an  effort  at  self-control  which  was  at  once  touching 


Henry  Ciavering  141 

and  admirable.  Then,  while  my  eyes  stole  to  her 
face,  murmured  in  a  low,  appealing  voice  :  "  If  I  have 
faults,  you  see  there  is  some  slight  excuse  for  them  ; 
arrogance,  vanity,  and  selfishness  being  considered  in 
the  gay  young  heiress  as  no  more  than  so  many  asser 
tions  of  a  laudable  dignity.  Ah!  ah,"  she  bitterly 
exclaimed  "  money  alone  has  been  the  ruin  of  us  all !  " 
Then,  with  a  falling  of  her  voice  :  "  And  now  it  has 
come  to  me  with  its  heritage  of  evil,  and  I  —  I  would 
give  it  all  for  —  But  this  is  weakness !  I  have  no  right 
to  afflict  you  with  my  griefs.  Pray  forget  all  I  have 
said,  Mr.  Raymond,  or  regard  my  complaints  as  the 
utterances  of  an  unhappy  girl  loaded  down  with  sor 
rows  and  oppressed  by  the  weight  of  many  perplexities 
and  terrors." 

"  But  I  do  not  wish  to  forget,"  I  replied.  "  You 
have  spoken  some  good  words,  manifested  much  noble 
emotion.  Your  possessions  cannot  but  prove  a  blessing 
to  you  if  you  enter  upon  them  with  such  feelings  as 
these." 

But,  with  a  quick  gesture,  she  ejaculated:  "  Impos 
sible  !  they  cannot  prove  a  blessing."  Then,  as  if 
startled  at  her  own  words,  bit  her  lip  and  hastily  added: 
'  Very  great  wealth  is  never  a  blessing. 

"  And  now,"  said  she,  with  a  total  change  of  manner, 
"  I  wish  to  address  you  on  a  subject  which  may  strike 
you  as  ill-timed,  but  which,  nevertheless,  I  must  men 
tion,  if  the  purpose  I  have  at  heart  is  ever  to  be  accom 
plished.  My  uncle,  as  you  know,  was  engaged  at  the 
time  of  his  death  in  writing  a  book  on  Chinese  customs 
and  prejudices.  It  was  a  work  which  he  was  anxious 
to  see  published,  and  naturally  I  desire  to  carry  out  his 
wishes  ;  but,  in  order  to  do  so,  I  find  it  necessary 
not  only  to  interest  myself  in  the  matter  now,  —  Mr. 


i42  The  Leavenworth  Case 

Harwell's  services  being  required,  and  it  being  my  wish 
to  dismiss  that  gentleman  as  soon  as  possible — but  to 
find  some  one  competent  to  supervise  its  completion. 
Now  I  have  heard, — I  have  been  told, —  that  you  were 
the  one  of  all  others  to  do  this;  and  though  it  is  difficult 
if  not  improper  for  me  to  ask  so  great  a  favor  of  one  who 
but  a  week  ago  was  a  perfect  stranger  to  me,  it  would 
afford  me  the  keenest  pleasure  if  you  would  consent  to 
look  over  this  manuscript  and  tell  me  what  remains  to 
be  done." 

The  timidity  with  which  these  words  were  uttered 
proved  her  to  be  in  earnest,  and  I  could  not  but  won 
der  at  the  strange  coincidence  of  this  request  with  my 
secret  wishes  ;  it  having  been  a  question  with  me  for 
some  time  how  I  was  to  gain  free  access  to  this  house 
without  in  any  way  compromising  either  its  inmates  or 
myself.  I  did  not  know  then  that  Mr.  Gryce  had  been 
the  one  to  recommend  me  to  her  favor  in  this  respect. 
But,  whatever  satisfaction  I  may  have  experienced,  I 
felt  myself  in  duty  bound  to  plead  my  incompetence  for 
a  task  so  entirely  out  of  the  line  of  my  profession,  and 
to  suggest  the  employment  of  some  one  better  ac 
quainted  with  such  matters  than  myself.  But  she 
would  not  listen  to  me. 

"  Mr.  Harwell  has  notes  and  memoranda  in  plenty," 
she  exclaimed,  "  and  can  give  you  all  the  information 
necessary.  You  will  have  no  difficulty;  indeed,  you 
will  not." 

"  But  cannot  Mr.  Harwell  himself  do  all  that  is 
requisite  ?  He  seems  to  be  a  clever  and  diligent  young 
man." 

But  she  shook  her  head.  "  He  thinks  he  can  ;  but 
I  know  uncle  never  trusted  him  with  the  composition 
of  a  single  sentence." 


Henry  Clavering  143 

"  But  perhaps  he  will  not  be  pleased, — Mr.  Harwell, 
I  mean  —  with  the  intrusion  of  a  stranger  into  his 
work." 

She  opened  her  eyes  with  astonishment.  "  That 
makes  no  difference,"  she  cried.  "  Mr.  Harwell  is  in 
my  pay,  and  has  nothing  to  say  about  it.  But  he  will 
not  object.  I  have  already  consulted  him,  and  he 
expresses  himself  as  satisfied  with  the  arrangement." 

"  Very  well,"  said  I;  "  then  I  will  promise  to  con 
sider  the  subject.  I  can  at  any  rate  look  over  the 
manuscript  and  give  you  my  opinion  of  its  condition." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,"  said  she,  with  the  prettiest  ges 
ture  of  satisfaction.  "  How  kind  you  are,  and  what 
can  I  ever  do  to  repay  you  ?  But  would  you  like  to 
see  Mr.  Harwell  himself?"  and  she  moved  towards 
the  door;  but  suddenly  paused,  whispering,  with  a 
short  shudder  of  remembrance :  * '  He  is  in  the  library  ; 
do  you  mind  ?  " 

Crushing  down  the  sick  qualm  that  arose  at  the 
mention  of  that  spot,  I  replied  in  the  negative. 

' '  The  papers  are  all  there,  and  he  says  he  can  work 
better  in  his  old  place  than  anywhere  else  ;  but  if  you 
wish,  I  can  call  him  down." 

But  I  would  not  listen  to  this,  and  myself  led  the 
way  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs. 

"  I  have  sometimes  thought  I  would  lock  up  that 
room,"  she  hurriedly  observed  ;  "  but  something  re 
strains  me.  I  can  no  more  do  so  than  I  can  leave 
this  house  ;  a  power  beyond  myself  forces  me  to  con 
front  all  its  horrors.  And  yet  I  suffer  continually  from 
terror.  Sometimes,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night  — 
But  I  will  not  distress  you.  I  have  already  said  too 
much ;  come, ' '  and  with  a  sudden  lift  of  the  head  she 
mounted  the  stairs. 


744          The  Leavenworth  Case 

Mr.  Harwell  was  seated,  when  we  entered  that  fatal 
room,  in  the  one  chair  of  all  others  I  expected  to  see 
unoccupied;  and  as  I  beheld  his  meagre  figure  bending 
where  such  a  little  while  before  his  eyes  had  encoun 
tered  the  outstretched  form  of  his  murdered  employer 
I  could  not  but  marvel  over  the  unimaginativeness  of 
the  man  who,  in  the  face  of  such  memories,  could  not 
only  appropriate  that  very  spot  for  his  own  use,  but 
pursue  his  avocations  there  with  so  much  calmness  and 
evident  precision.  But  in  another  moment  I  discov 
ered  that  the  disposition  of  the  light  in  the  room  made 
that  one  seat  the  only  desirable  one  for  his  purpose; 
and  instantly  my  wonder  changed  to  admiration  at 
this  quiet  surrender  of  personal  feeling  to  the  require 
ments  of  the  occasion. 

He  looked  up  mechanically  as  we  came  in,  but  did 
not  rise,  his  countenance  wearing  the  absorbed  expres 
sion  which  bespeaks  the  preoccupied  mind. 

"  He  is  utterly  oblivious,"  Mary  whispered  ;  "  that 
is  a  way  of  his.  I  doubt  if  he  knows  who  or  what  it  is 
that  has  disturbed  him."  And,  advancing  into  the 
room,  she  passed  across  his  line  of  vision,  as  if  to  call 
attention  to  herself,  and  said  :  "  I  have  brought  Mr. 
Raymond  up-stairs  to  see  you,  Mr.  Harwell.  He  has 
been  so  kind  as  to  accede  to  my  wishes  in  regard 
to  the  completion  of  the  manuscript  now  before 
you." 

Slowly  Mr.  Harwell  rose,  wiped  his  pen,  and  put  it 
away;  manifesting,  however,  a  reluctance  in  doing  so 
that  proved  this  interference  to  be  in  reality  anything 
but  agreeable  to  him.  Observing  this,  I  did  not  wait 
for  him  to  speak,  but  took  up  the  pile  of  manuscript, 
arranged  in  one  mass  on  the  table,  saying  : 

"  This  seems  to  be  very  clearly  written  ;  if  you  will 


Henry  Clavering  145 

excuse  me,  I  will  glance  over  it  and  thus  learn  some 
thing  of  its  general  character. ' ' 

He  bowed,  uttered  a  word  or  so  of  acquiescence, 
then,  as  Mary  left  the  room,  awkwardly  reseated  him 
self,  and  took  up  his  pen. 

Instantly  the  manuscript  and  all  connected  with  it 
vanished  from  my  thoughts;  and  Eleanore,  her  situa 
tion,  and  the  mystery  surrounding  this  family,  returned 
upon  me  with  renewed  force.  Looking  the  secretary 
steadily  in  the  face,  I  remarked  : 

"  I  am  very  glad  of  this  opportunity  of  seeing  you  a 
moment  alone,  Mr.  Harwell,  if  only  for  the  purpose  of 
saying " 

' '  Anything  in  regard  to  the  murder  ?  ' ' 

"Yes,"  I  began. 

"  Then  you  must  pardon  me,"  he  respectfully  but 
firmly  replied.  "  It  is  a  disagreeable  subject  which  I 
cannot  bear  to  think  of,  much  less  discuss." 

Disconcerted  and,  what  was  more,  convinced  of  the 
impossibility  of  obtaining  any  information  from  this 
man,  I  abandoned  the  attempt;  and,  taking  up  the 
manuscript  once  more,  endeavored  to  master  in  some 
small  degree  the  nature  of  its  contents.  Succeeding 
beyond  my  hopes,  I  opened  a  short  conversation  with 
him  in  regard  to  it,  and  finally,  coming  to  the  conclu 
sion  I  could  accomplish  what  Miss  Leavenworth  desired, 
left  him  and  descended  again  to  the  reception  room. 

When,  an  hour  or  so  later,  I  withdrew  from  the 
house,  it  was  with  the  feeling  that  one  obstacle  had 
been  removed  from  my  path.  If  I  failed  in  what  I  had 
undertaken,  it  would  not  be  from  lack  of  opportunity 
of  studying  the  inmates  of  this  dwelling. 


XVI 

THE   WIU,  OF  A   MILLIONAIRE 

"  Our  remedies  oft  in  ourselves  do  lie, 
Which  we  ascribe  to  Heaven." 

All  >s  Well  that  Ends  Well. 

TUB  next  morning's  Tribune  contained  a  synopsis 
of  Mr.  Leavenworth's  will.  Its  provisions  were 
a  surprise  to  me  ;  for,  while  the  bulk  of  his  immense 
estate  was,  according  to  the  general  understanding, 
bequeathed  to  his  niece,  Mary,  it  appeared  by  a  codicil, 
attached  to  his  will  some  five  years  before,  that  Klea- 
nore  was  not  entirely  forgotten,  she  having  been  made 
the  recipient  of  a  legacy  which,  if  not  large,  was  at  least 
sufficient  to  support  her  in  comfort.  After  listening  to 
the  various  comments  of  my  associates  on  the  subject, 
I  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Gryce,  in  obedience  to 
his  request  to  call  upon  him  as  soon  as  possible  after 
the  publication  of  the  will. 

"  Good-morning,"  he  remarked  as  I  entered,  but 
whether  addressing  me  or  the  frowning  top  of  the  desk 
before  which  he  was  sitting  it  would  be  difficult  to  say. 
"  Won't  you  sit  ?  "  nodding  with  a  curious  back  move 
ment  of  his  head  towards  a  chair  in  his  rear. 

I  drew  up  the  chair  to  his  side.  "  I  am  curious  to 
know,"  I  remarked,  "  what  you  have  to  say  about  this 
will,  and  its  probable  effect  upon  the  matters  we  nave 
in  hand." 


Henry  Clavering  147 

"  What  is  your  own  idea  in  regard  to  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  think  upon  the  whole  it  will  make  but  little 
difference  in  public  opinion.  Those  who  thought  Blea- 
nore  guilty  before  will  feel  that  they  possess  now 
greater  cause  than  ever  to  doubt  her  innocence  ;  while 
those  who  have  hitherto  hesitated  to  suspect  her  will 
not  consider  that  the  comparatively  small  amount  be 
queathed  her  would  constitute  an  adequate  motive  for 
so  great  a  crime. ' ' 

4 '  You  have  heard  men  talk  ;  what  seems  to  be  the 
general  opinion  among  those  you  converse  with  ?  '  * 

"  That  the  motive  of  the  tragedy  will  be  found  in 
the  partiality  shown  in  so  singular  a  will,  though  how, 
they  do  not  profess  to  know. ' ' 

Mr.  Gryce  suddenly  became  interested  in  one  of  the 
small  drawers  before  him. 

"  And  all  this  has  not  set  you  thinking  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Thinking,"  returned  I.  "I  don't  know  what  you 
mean.  I  am  sure  I  have  done  nothing  but  think  for 
the  last  three  days.  I " 

"  Of  course — of  course,"  he  cried.  "  I  did  n't  mean 
to  say  anything  disagreeable.  And  so  you  have  seen 
Mr.  Clavering?" 

"  Just  seen  him  ;  no  more." 

"  And  are  you  going  to  assist  Mr.  Harwell  in  finish 
ing  Mr.  Leaven  worth's  book  ?  " 

"  How  did  you  learn  that  ?  " 

He  only  smiled. 

"  Yes,"  said  I  ;  "  Miss  Leavenworth  has  requested 
me  to  do  her  that  little  favor." 

"  She  is  a  queenly  creature  !  "  he  exclaimed  in  a 
burst  of  enthusiasm.  Then,  with  an  instant  return  to 
his  business-like  tone  :  ' '  You  are  going  to  have  oppor 
tunities,  Mr.  Raymond.  Now  there  are  two  things  I 


148          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

want  you  to  find  out ;  first,  what  is  the  connection 
between  these  ladies  and  Mr.  Clavering " 

;<  There  is  a  connection,  then  ?  " 

"  Undoubtedly.  And  secondly,  what  is  the  cause  of 
the  unfriendly  feeling  which  evidently  exists  between 
the  cousins." 

I  drew  back  and  pondered  the  position  offered  me. 
A  spy  in  a  fair  woman's  house!  How  could  I  reconcile 
it  with  my  natural  instincts  as  a  gentleman  ? 

"  Cannot  you  find  some  one  better  adapted  to  learn 
these  secrets  for  you  ?  "  I  asked  at  length.  "  The  part 
of  a  spy  is  anything  but  agreeable  to  my  feelings,  I 
assure  you." 

Mr.  Gryce's  brows  fell. 

f*."  I  will  assist  Mr.  Harwell  in  his  efforts  to  arrange 
Mr.  L,ea  ven  worth's  manuscript  for  the  press,"  I  said  ; 
"  I  will  give  Mr.  Clavering  an  opportunity  to  form  my 
acquaintance;  and  I  will  listen,  if  Miss  Leavenworth 
chooses  to  make  me  her  confidant  in  any  way.  But 
any  hearkening  at  doors,  surprises,  unworthy  feints  or 
ungentlemanly  subterfuges,  I  herewith  disclaim  as  out 
side  of  my  province  ;  my  task  being  to  find  out  what  I 
can  in  an  open  way,  and  yours  to  search  into  the  nooks 
land  corners  of  this  wretched  business." 

1 '  In  other  words,  you  are  to  play  the  hound,  and  I 
>    the  mole  ;  just  so,  I  know  what  belongs  to  a  gentle 
man." 

"  And  now,"  said  I,  "  what  news  of  Hannah  ?  " 

He  shook  both  hands  high  in  the  air.     "  None." 

I  cannot  say  I  was  greatly  surprised,  that  evening, 
when,  upon  descending  from  an  hour's  labor  with  Mr. 
Harwell,  I  encountered  Miss  Leavenworth  standing  at 
the  foot  of  the  stairs.  There  had  been  something  in 


Henry  Clavering  149 

her  bearing,  the  night  before,  which  prepared  me  for 
another  interview  this  evening,  though  her  manner  of 
commencing  it  was  a  surprise.  "  Mr.  Raymond,"  said 
she,  with  an  air  of  marked  embarrassment,  "  I  want  to 
ask  you  a  question.  I  believe  you  to  be  a  good  man, 
and  I  know  you  will  answer  me  conscientiously.  As  a 
brother  would, "  she  added,  lifting  her  eyes  for  a  mo 
ment  to  my  face.  "  I  know  it  will  sound  strange;  but 
remember,  I  have  no  adviser  but  you,  and  I  must  ask 
some  one.  Mr.  Raymond,  do  you  think  a  person  could 
do  something  that  was  very  wrong,  and  yet  grow  tc  be 
thoroughly  good  afterwards  ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  I  replied;  "  if  he  were  truly  sorry  for 
his  fault." 

'*  But  say  it  was  more  than  a  fault ;  say  it  was  an 
actual  harm  ;  would  not  the  memory  of  that  one  evil 
hour  cast  a  lasting  shadow  over  one's  life  ?  " 

"  That  depends  upon  the  nature  of  the  harm  and  its 
effect  upon  others.  If  one  had  irreparably  injured  a 
fellow-being,  it  would  be  hard  for  a  person  of  sensitive 
nature  to  live  a  happy  life  afterwards  ;  though  the  fact 
of  not  living  a  happy  life  ought  to  be  no  reason  why 
one  should  not  live  a  good  life." 

"  But  to  live  a  good  life  would  it  be  necessary  to  re 
veal  the  evil  you  had  done  ?  Cannot  one  go  on  and  do 
right  without  confessing  to  the  world  a  past  wrong  ?  " 

*'  Yes,  unless  by  its  confession  he  can  in  some  way 
make  reparation." 

My  answer  seemed  to  trouble  her.  Drawing  back, 
she  stood  for  one  moment  in  a  thoughtful  attitude  before 
me,  her  beauty  shining  with  almost  a  statuesque  splen 
dor  in  the  glow  of  the  porcelain-shaded  lamp  at  her  side. 
Nor,  though  she  presently  roused  herself,  leading  the 
way  into  the  drawing-room  with  a  gesture  that  was1 


150          The  Leavenworth  Case 

allurement  itself,  did  she  recur  to  this  topic  again;  but 
rather  seemed  to  strive,  in  the  conversation  that  fol 
lowed,  to  make  me  forget  what  had  already  passed  be 
tween  us.  That  she  did  not  succeed,  was  owing  to  n:y 
intense  and  unfailing  interest  in  her  cousin. 

As  I  descended  the  stoop,  I  saw  Thomas,  the  butler, 
leaning  over  the  area  gate.  Immediately  I  was  seized 
with  an  impulse  to  interrogate  him  in  regard  to  a  matter 
which  had  more  or  less  interested  me  ever  since  the  in 
quest;  and  that  was,  who  was  the  Mr.  Robbins  who  had 
called  upon  Kleanore  the  night  of  the  murder  ?  But 
Thomas  was  decidedly  uncommunicative.  He  remem 
bered  such  a  person  called,  but  could  not  describe  his 
looks  any  further  than  to  say  that  he  was  not  a  small 
man. 

I  did  not  press  the  matter 


XVII 

THE   BEGINNING  OP  GREAT  SURPRISES 

M  Vous  regardez  une  dtoile  pour  deux  motifs,  parce  qu'elle  est  lumineuse 
et  parce  qu'elle  est  impenetrable.  Vous  avez  aupr&s  de  vous  un  plus  doux 
rayonnement  et  un  pas  grand  myst£re,  la  femme." 

Les  Miserable*, 

AND  now  followed  days  in  which  I  seemed  to  make 
little  or  no  progress.  Mr.  Clavering,  disturbed 
perhaps  by  my  presence,  forsook  his  usual  haunts,  thus 
depriving  me  of  all  opportunity  of  making  his  ac 
quaintance  in  any  natural  manner,  while  the  evenings 
spent  at  Miss  Leavenworth's  were  productive  of  little 
else  than  constant  suspense  and  uneasiness. 

The  manuscript  required  less  revision  than  I  sup 
posed.  But,  in  the  course  of  making  such  few  changes 
as  were  necessary,  I  had  ample  opportunity  of  studying 
the  character  of  Mr.  Harwell.  I  found  him  to  be 
neither  more  nor  less  than  an  excellent  amanuensis. 
Stiff,  unbending,  and  sombre,  but  true  to  his  duty  and 
reliable  in  its  performance,  I  learned  to  respect  him, 
and  even  to  like  him  ;  and  this,  too,  though  I  saw  the 
liking  was  not  reciprocated,  whatever  the  respect  may 
have  been.  He  never  spoke  of  Eleanore  Leavenworth 
or,  indeed,  mentioned  the  family  or  its  trouble  in  any 
way;  till  I  began  to  feel  that  all  this  reticence  had  a 
cause  deeper  than  the  nature  of  the  man,  and  that  if  he 
did  speak,  it  would  be  to  some  purpose.  This  suspi 
cion,  of  course,  kept  me  restlessly  eager  in  his  presence. 


The  Leaven  worth  Case 


I  could  not  forbear  giving  him  sly  glances  now  and 
then,  to  see  how  he  acted  when  he  believed  himself  un 
observed  ;  but  he  was  ever  the  same,  a  passive,  diligent, 
unexcitable  worker. 

This  continual  beating  against  a  stone  wall,  for  thus 
I  regarded  it,  became  at  last  almost  unendurable. 
Clavering  shy,  and  the  secretary  unapproachable  —  how 
was  I  to  gain  anything  ?  The  short  interviews  I  had 
with  Mary  did  not  help  matters.  Haughty,  con* 
strained,  feverish,  pettish,  grateful,  appealing,  every 
thing  at  once,  and  never  twice  the  same,  I  learned  to 
dread,  even  while  I  coveted,  an  interview.  She  appeared 
to  be  passing  through  some  crisis  which  occasioned  her 
the  keenest  suffering.  I  have  seen  her,  when  she 
thought  herself  alone,  throw  up  her  hands  with  the 
gesture  which  we  use  to  ward  off  a  coming  evil  or  shut 
out  some  hideous  vision.  I  have  likewise  beheld  her 
standing  with  her  proud  head  abased,  her  nervous 
hands  drooping,  her  whole  form  sinking  and  inert,  as 
if  the  pressure  of  a  weight  she  could  neither  upbear  nor 
cast  aside  had  robbed  her  even  of  the  show  of  resistance. 
But  this  was  only  once.  Ordinarily  she  was  at  least 
stately  in  her  trouble.  Even  when  the  softest  appeal 
came  into  her  eyes  she  stood  erect,  and  retained  her 
expression  of  conscious  power.  Kven  the  night  she 
met  me  in  the  hall,  with  feverish  cheeks  and  lips 
trembling  with  eagerness,  only  to  turn  and  fly  again 
without  giving  utterance  to  what  she  had  to  say,  she 
comported  herself  with  a  fiery  dignity  that  was  well 
nigh  imposing. 

That  all  this  meant  something,  I  was  sure;  and  so  I 
kept  my  patience  alive  with  the  hope  that  some  day 
she  would  make  a  revelation.  Those  quivering  lips 
would  not  always  remain  closed  ;  the  secret  involving 


Henry  Clavering  153 

Eleanore's  honor  and  happiness  would  be  divulged  by 
this  restless  being,  if  by  no  one  else.  Not  was  the 
memory  of  that  extraordinary,  if  not  cruel,  accusation 
I  had  heard  her  rnaks  enough  to  destroy  this  hope  — 
for  hope  it  had  grown  to  be  —  so  that  I  found  myself 
insensibly  shortening  my  time  with  Mr.  Harwell  in  the 
library,  and  extending  my  tete-&-t£te  visits  with  Mary 
in  the  reception  room,  till  the  imperturbable  secretary 
was  forced  to  complain  that  he  was  often  left  for  hours 
without  work. 

But,  as  I  say,  days  passed,  and  a  second  Monday 
evening  came  round  without  seeing  me  any  further 
advanced  upon  the  problem  I  had  set  myself  to  solve 
than  when  I  first  started  upon  it  two  weeks  before. 
The  subject  of  the  murder  had  not  even  been  broached; 
nor  was  Hannah  spoken  of,  though  I  observed  the 
papers  were  not  allowed  to  languish  an  instant  upon 
the  stoop  ;  mistress  and  servants  betraying  equal  inter 
est  in  their  contents.  All  this  was  strange  to  me.  It 
was  as  if  you  saw  a  group  of  human  beings  eating, 
drinking,  and  sleeping  upon  the  sides  of  a  volcano  hot 
with  a  late  eruption  and  trembling  with  the  birth  of  a 
new  one.  I  longed  to  break  tfcis  silence  as  we  shiver 
glass;  by  shouting  the  name  of  Kleanore  through  those 
gilded  rooms  and  satin-draped  vestibules.  But  this 
Monday  evening  I  was  in  a  calmer  mood.  I  was  de 
termined  to  expect  nothing  from  my  visits  to  Mary 
L,eavenworth's  house;  and  entered  it  upon  the  eve  in 
question  with  an  equanimity  such  as  I  had  not  experi 
enced  since  the  first  day  I  passed  under  its  unhappy 
portals. 

But  when,  upon  nearing  the  reception  room,  I  saw 
Mary  pacing  the  floor  with  the  air  of  one  who  is  rest- 
lessly  awaiting  something  or  somebody,  I  took  a  sudden 


154          The  Leavenworth  Case 

resolution,  and,  advancing  towards  her,  said  :  "Do  I 
see  you  alone,  Miss  Leavenworth  ?  " 

She.  paused  in  her  hurried  acticn}  blushed  and  bowed, 
but,  contrary  to  her  usual  custom,  did  not  bid  ine  enter. 
'  Will  it  be  too  great  an  intrusion  on  my  part,  if  I 
venture  to  come  in  ?  "  I  asked. 

Her  glance  flashed  uneasily  to  the  clock,  and  she 
seemed  about  to  excuse  herself,  but  suddenly  yielded, 
and,  drawing  up  a  chair  before  the  fire,  motioned  me 
towards  it.  Though  she  endeavored  to  appear  calm,  I 
vaguely  felt  I  had  chanced  upon  hei  in  one  of  her  most 
agitated  moods,  and  that  I  had  only  to  broach  the  sub 
ject  I  had  in  mind  to  behold  her  haughtiness  disappear 
before  me  like  melting  snow.  I  also  felt  that  I  had 
but  few  moments  in  which  to  do  it.  I  accordingly 
plunged  immediately  into  the  subject, 

"  Miss  Leavenworth/'  said  I,  "  in  obtruding  upon 
you  to-night,  I  have  a  purpose  other  than  that  of  giving 
myself  a  pleasure.  I  have  come  to  make  an  appeal." 

Instantly  I  saw  that  in  some  way  I  had  started 
wrong.  "An  appeal  to  make  to  me?"  she  asked, 
breathing  coldness  from  every  feature  of  her  face. 

"  Yes,"  I  went  on,  with  passionate  recklessness. 
"  Balked  in  every  other  endeavor  to  learn  the  truth,  I 
have  come  to  you,  whom  I  believe  to  be  noble  at  the 
core,  for  that  help  which  seems  likely  to  fail  us  in  every 
other  direction:  for  the  word  which,  if  it  does  not  abso 
lutely  save  your  cousin,  will  at  least  put  us  upon  the 
track  of  what  will." 

1 '  I  do  not  understand  what  you  mean, "  she  protested, 
slightly  shrinking. 

•'  Miss  Leavenworth,"  I  pursued,  "  it  is  needless  for 
me  to  tell  you  in  what  position  your  cousin  stands. 
You,  who  remember  both  the  form  and  drift  of  the 


Henry  Clavering  155 

questions  put  to  her  at  the  inquest,  comprehend  it  all 
without  any  explanation  from  me.  But  what  you  may 
not  know  is  this,  that  unless  she  is  speedily  relieved 
from  the  suspicion  which,  justly  or  not,  has  attached 
itself  to  her  name,  the  consequences  which  such  sus 
picion  entails  must  fall  upon  her,  and ' ' 

"  Good  God  !  "  she  cried;  "  you  do  not  mean  she 
will  be " 

"  Subject  to  arrest  ?    Yes/' 

It  was  a  blow.  Shame,  horror,  and  anguish  were  in 
every  line  of  her  white  face.  "  And  all  because  of  that 
key  !  "  she  murmured. 

''Key?  How  did  you  know  anything  about  a 
key?" 

"  Why,"  she  cried,  flushing  painfully;  "  I  cannot 
say  ;  did  n't  you  tell  me  ?  " 

"  No,"  I  returned. 

"The  papers,  then?" 

"  The  papers  have  never  mentioned  it.*' 

She  grew  more  and  more  agitated.  "  I  thought 
every  one  knew.  No,  I  did  not,  either,"  she  avowed, 
in  a  sudden  burst  of  shame  and  penitence.  "  I  knew 
it  was  a  secret;  but — oh,  Mr.  Raymond,  it  was  Eleanore 
herself  who  told  me." 

"Eleanore?" 

"  Yes,  that  last  evening  she  was  here ;  we  were 
together  in  the  drawing-room." 

4 'What  did  she  tell?" 

"  That  the  key  to  the  library  had  been  seen  in  her 
possession." 

I  could  scarcely  conceal  my  incredulity.  Eleanore, 
conscious  of  the  suspicion  with  which  her  cousin  re 
garded  her,  inform  that  cousin  of  a  fact  calculated  to 
add  weight  to  that  suspicion  ?  I  could  not  believe  this. 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


"But  you  knew  it?*'  Mary  went  on.  f'  I  have 
revealed  nothing  I  ought  to  have  kept  secret  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  I  ;  "  and,  Miss  Leavenworth,  it  is  this 
thing  which  makes  your  cousin's  position  absolutely 
dangerous.  It  is  a  fact  that,  left  unexplained,  must 
ever  link  her  name  with  infamy;  a  bit  of  circumstantial 
evidence  no  sophistry  can  smother,  and  no  denial  ob 
literate.  Only  her  hitherto  spotless  reputation,  and  the 
efforts  of  one  who,  notwithstanding  appearances,  be^ 
lieves  in  her  innocence,  keeps  her  so  long  from  the 
clutch  of  the  officers  of  justice.  That  key,  and  the 
silence  preserved  by  her  in  regard  to  it,  is  sinking  her 
slowly  into  a  pit  from  which  the  utmost  endeavors  of 
her  best  friends  will  soon  be  inadequate  to  extricate 
her." 

"  And  you  tell  me  this  --  " 

"  That  you  may  have  pity  on  the  poor  girl,  who  will 
not  have  pity  on  herself,  and  by  the  explanation  of  a 
few  circumstances,  which  cannot  be  mysteries  to  you, 
assist  in  bringing  her  from  under  the  dreadful  shadow 
that  threatens  to  overwhelm  her." 

"  And  would  you  insinuate,  sir,"  she  cried,  turning 
upon  me  with  a  look  of  great  anger,  "  that  I  know  any 
more  than  you  do  of  this  matter  ?  that  I  possess  any 
knowledge  which  I  have  not  already  made  public,  con 
cerning  the  dreadful  tragedy  which  has  transformed 
our  home  into  a  desert,  our  existence  into  a  lasting 
horror  ?  Has  the  blight  of  suspicion  fallen  upon  me, 
too  ;  and  have  you  come  to  accuse  me  in  my  own 
house  -  " 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,"  I  entreated;  "  calm  yourself. 
.£  accuse  you  of  nothing.  I  only  desire  you  to  enlighten 
me  as  to  your  cousin's  probable  motive  for  this  crimi 
nating  silence.  You  cannot  be  ignorant  of  it.  You 


Henry  Clavering  157 

i 

are  her  cousin,  almost  her  sister,  have  been  at  all 
events  her  daily  companion  for  years,  and  must  know 
for  whom  or  for  what  she  seals  her  lips,  and  conceals 
facts  which,  if  known,  would  direct  suspicion  to  the 
real  criminal  —  that  is,  if  you  really  believe  what  you 
have  hitherto  stated,  that  your  cousin  is  an  innocent 
woman." 

She  not  making  any  answer  to  this,  I  rose  and  con 
fronted  her.  "  Miss  Leavenworth,  do  you  believe  your 
cousin  guiltless  of  this  crime,  or  not  ?  ' ' 

"  Guiltless?  Eleanore?  Oh!  my  God  ;  if  all  the 
world  were  only  as  innocent  as  she  !  ' ' 

"  Then,"  said  I,  "  you  must  likewise  believe  that  if 
she  refrains  from  speaking  in  regard  to  matters  which 
to  ordinary  observers  ought  to  be  explained,  she  does 
it  only  from  motives  of  kindness  towards  one  less  guilt 
less  than  herself." 

"  What  ?  No,  no;  I  do  not  say  that.  What  made 
you  think  of  any  such  explanation  ?  " 

"  The  action  itself.  With  one  of  Eleanore's  charac 
ter,  such  conduct  as  hers  admits  of  no  other  construc 
tion.  Either  she  is  mad,  or  she  is  shielding  another  at 
the  expense  of  herself. ' ' 

Mary's  lip,  which  had  trembled,  slowly  steadied  itself. 
"  And  whom  have  you  settled  upon,  as  the  person  for 
whom  Eleanore  thus  sacrifices  herself?  " 

"  Ah,"  said  I,  "  there  is  where  I  seek  assistance 
from  you.  With  your  knowledge  of  her  history '  * 

But  Mary  Leavenworth,  sinking  haughtily  back  into 
her  chair,  stopped  me  with  a  quiet  gesture.  "  I  beg 
your  pardon,"  said  she;  "  but  you  make  a  mistake.  I 
know  little  or  nothing  of  Eleanore' s  personal  feelings. 
The  mystery  must  be  solved  by  some  one  besides  me." 

I  changed  my  tactics. 


358  The  Leaven  worth  Case 

"  When  Eleanore  confessed  to  you  that  the  missing 
key  had  been  seen  in  her  possession,  did  she  likewise 
inform  you  where  she  obtained  it,  and  for  what  reason 
she  was  hiding  it  ?  " 

"  No." 

' '  Merely  told  you  the  fact,  without  any  explanation?" 

"Yes." 

"  Was  not  that  a  strange  piece  of  gratuitous  informa 
tion  for  her  to  give  one  who,  but  a  few  hours  before, 
had  accused  her  to  the  face  of  committing  a  deadly 
crime?  " 

"  What  do  you  mean?"  she  asked,  her  voice  suddenly 
sinking. 

"  You  will  not  deny  that  you  were  once,  not  only 
ready  to  believe  her  guilty,  but  that  you  actually 
charged  her  with  having  perpetrated  this  crime." 

' '  Explain  yourself  ! ' '  she  cried. 

"  Miss  L,eavenworth,  do  you  not  remember  what  you 
said  in  that  room  upstairs,  when  you  were  alone  with 
your  cousin  on  the  morning  of  the  inquest,  just  before 
Mr.  Gryce  and  myself  entered  your  presence  ?  n 

Her  eyes  did  not  fall,  but  they  filled  with  sudden 
terror. 

' '  You  heard  ?  ' '  she  whispered. 

"  I  could  not  help  it.  I  was  just  outside  the  door, 
and " 

"What  did  you  hear?" 

I  told  her. 

"And  Mr.  Gryce?" 

"  He  was  at  my  side." 

It  seemed  as  if  her  eyes  would  devour  my  face. 
*  Yet  nothing  was  said  when  you  came  in  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  You,  however,  have  never  forgotten  it  ?  " 


Henry  Clavering  159 

44  How  could  we,  Miss  Leavenworth  ?  " 

Her  head  fell  forward  in  her  hands,  and  for  one  wild 
moment  she  seemed  lost  in  despair.  Then  she  roused, 
and  desperately  exclaimed  : 

"  And  that  is  why  you  come  here  to-night.  With 
that  sentence  written  upon  your  heart,  you  invade  my 
presence,  torture  me  with  questions ' ' 

' '  Pardon  me, ' '  I  broke  in  ;  "  are  my  questions  such 
as  you,  with  reasonable  regard  for  the  honor  of  one 
with  whom  you  are  accustomed  to  associate,  should 
hesitate  to  answer  ?  Do  I  derogate  from  my  manhood 
in  asking  you  how  and  why  you  came  to  make  an  ac 
cusation  of  so  grave  a  nature,  at  a  time  when  all  the 
circumstances  of  the  case  were  freshly  before  you,  only 
to  insist  fully  as  strongly  upon  your  cousin's  innocence 
when  you  found  there  was  even  more  cause  for  your 
imputation  than  you  had  supposed  ?  " 

She  did  not  seem  to  hear  me.  "  Oh,  my  cruel  fate!  " 
she  murmured.  "  Oh,  my  cruel  fate  !  " 

"  Miss  Leavenworth, "  said  I,  rising,  and  taking  my 
stand  before  her  ;  "  although  there  is  a  temporary 
estrangement  between  you  and  your  cousin,  you  can 
not  wish  to  seem  her  enemy.  Speak,  then  ;  let  me  at 
least  know  the  name  of  him  for  whom  she  thus  immo 
lates  herself.  A  hint  from  you ' ' 

But  rising,  with  a  strange  look,  to  her  feet,  she  inter 
rupted  me  with  a  stern  remark:  "  If  you  do  not  know, 
I  cannot  inform  you  ;  do  not  ask  me,  Mr.  Raymond." 
And  she  glanced  at  the  clock  for  the  second  time. 

I  took  another  turn. 

' '  Miss  Leavenworth,  you  once  asked  me  if  a  person 
who  had  committed  a  wrong  ought  necessarily  to  con 
fess  it;  and  I  replied  no,  unless  by  the  confession  repa 
ration  could  be  made.  Do  you  remember  ?  " 


160          The  Leavenworth  Case 

Her  lips  moved,  but  no  words  issued  from  them. 

"  I  begin  to  think,"  I  solemnly  proceeded,  following 
the  lead  of  her  emotion,  "  that  confession  is  the  only 
way  out  of  this  difficulty  :  that  only  by  the  words  you 
can  utter  Eleanore  can  be  saved  from  the  doom  that 
awaits  her.  Will  you  not  then  show  yourself  a  true 
woman  by  responding  to  my  earnest  entreaties  ? ' ' 

I  seemed  to  have  touched  the  right  chord;  for  she 
trembled,  and  a  look  of  wistfulness  filled  her  eyes. 
*'  Oh,  if  I  could  !  "  she  murmured. 

"  And  why  can  you  not  ?  You  will  never  be  happy 
till  you  do.  Eleanore  persists  in  silence;  but  that  is  no 
reason  why  you  should  emulate  her  example.  You 
only  make  her  position  more  doubtful  by  it." 

II  I  know  it;   but  I  cannot  help  myself.     Fate  has 
too  strong  a  hold  upon  me  ;  I  cannot  break  away." 

"  That  is  not  true.  Any  one  can  escape  from  bonds 
imaginary  as  yours. ' ' 

"  No,  no,"  she  protested;  "  you  do  not  understand." 

"  I  understand  this:  that  the  path  of  rectitude  is  a 
straight  one,  and  that  he  who  steps  into  devious  by 
ways  is  going  astray." 

A  nicker  of  light,  pathetic  beyond  description,  flashed 
for  a  moment  across  her  face  ;  her  throat  rose  as  with 
one  wild  sob  ;  her  lips  opened;  she  seemed  yielding, 
when —  A  sharp  ring  at  the  front  door-bell  ! 

"  Oh,"  she  cried,  sharply  turning,  "  tell  him  I  can 
not  see  him  ;  tell  him ' ' 

"  Miss  Leavenworth,"  said  I,  taking  her  by  both 
hands,  "  never  mind  the  door;  never  mind  anything 
but  this.  I  have  asked  you  a  question  which  involves 
the  mystery  of  this  whole  affair  ;  answer  me,  then,  for 
your  soul's  sake  ;  tell  me,  what  the  unhappy  circum 
stances  were  which  could  induce  you ' ' 


Henry  Clavering  161 

But  she  tore  her  hands  from  mine.  "  The  door  !  " 
she  cried  ;  "  it  will  open,  and ' ' 

Stepping  into  the  hall,  I  met  Thomas  coming  up  the 
basement  stairs.  "  Go  back,"  said  I;  "  I  will  call  you 
when  you  are  wanted." 

With  a  bow  he  disappeared. 

"  You  expect  me  to  answer,"  she  exclaimed,  when 
I  re-entered,  "  now,  in  a  moment  ?  I  cannot.  " 

"But " 

"  Impossible  ! "  fastening  her  gaze  upon  the  front 
door. 

"  Miss  Leaven  worth  !  " 

She  shuddered. 

'  *  I  fear  the  time  will  never  come,  if  you  do  not  speak 
now. ' ' 

"  Impossible,"  she  reiterated. 

Another  twang  at  the  bell. 

"  You  hear  !  "  said  she. 

I  went  into  the  hall  and  called  Thomas.     "  You  may 
open  the  door  now,"  said  I,  and  moved  to  return  to  her 
side. 

But,  with  a  gesture  of  command,  she  pointed  up-stairs. 
' '  Leave  me  ! ' '  and  her  glance  passed  on  to  Thomas, 
who  stopped  where  he  was. 

II  I  will  see  you  again  before  I  go,"  said  I,  and 
hastened  up-stairs. 

Thomas  opened  the  door.  "  Is  Miss  Leaven  worth 
in  ?  "  I  heard  a  rich,  tremulous  voice  inquire. 

'  Yes,  sir,"  came  in  the  butler's  most  respectful  and 
measured  accents,  and,  leaning  over  the  banisters  I  be 
held,  to  my  amazement,  the  form  of  Mr.  Clavering 
enter  the  front  hall  and  move  towards  the  reception 
room. 

XX 


XVIII 

ON  THE  STAIRS 
'You  cannot  say  I  did  it.' 


Macbeth. 


tremulous,  filled  with  wonder  at  this 
L,  unlooked-for  event,  I  paused  for  a  moment  to 
collect  my  scattered  senses,  when  the  sound  of  a  low, 
monotonous  voice  breaking  upon  my  ear  from  the 
direction  of  the  library,  I  approached  and  found  Mr. 
Harwell  reading  aloud  from  his  late  employer's  manu 
script.  It  would  be  difficult  for  me  to  describe  the 
effect  which  this  simple  discovery  made  upon  me  at 
this  time.  There,  in  that  room  of  late  death,  with 
drawn  from  the  turmoil  of  the  world,  a  hermit  in  his 
skeleton-lined  cell,  this  man  employed  himself  in  read 
ing  and  rereading,  with  passive  interest,  the  words  of 
the  dead,  while  above  and  below,  human  beings  agonized 
in  doubt  and  shame.  Listening,  I  heard  these  words  : 

"  By  these  means  their  native  rulers  will  not  only 
lose  their  jealous  terror  of  our  institutions,  but  acquire 
an  actual  curiosity  in  regard  to  them." 

Opening  the  door  I  went  in. 

"  Ah  !  you  are  late,  sir,"  was  the  greeting  with 
which  he  rose  and  brought  forward  a  chair. 

My  reply  was  probably  inaudible,  for  he  added,  as  he 
passed  to  his  own  seat : 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  not  well." 

102 


Henry  Clavering  163 

I  roused  myself. 

"  I  am  not  ill."  And,  pulling  the  papers  towards 
me,  I  began  looking  them  over.  But  the  words  danced 
before  my  eyes,  and  I  was  obliged  to  give  up  all  attempt 
at  work  for  that  night. 

"  I  fear  I  am  unable  to  assist  you  this  evening,  Mr, 
Harwell.  The  fact  is,  I  find  it  difficult  to  give  proper 
attention  to  this  business  while  the  man  who  by  a 
dastardly  assassination  has  made  it  necessary  goes 
unpunished." 

The  secretary  in  his  turn  pushed  the  papers  aside,  as 
if  moved  by  a  sudden  distaste  of  them,  but  gave  me  no 
answer. 

"  You  told  me,  when  you  first  came  to  me  with  news 
of  this  fearful  tragedy,  that  it  was  a  mystery  ;  but  it  is 
one  which  must  be  solved,  Mr.  Harwell  ;  it  is  wearing 
out  the  lives  of  too  many  whom  we  love  and  respect. ' ' 

The  secretary  gave  me  a  look.  "  Miss  Eleanore  ?  " 
he  murmured. 

"  And  Miss  Mary,"  I  went  on;  "myself,  you,  and 
many  others. ' ' 

'  You  have  manifested  much  interest  in  the  matter 
from  the  beginning,"  he  said,  methodically  dipping  his 
pen  into  the  ink. 

I  stared  at  him  in  amazement. 

"  And  you,"  said  I;  "do  you  take  no  interest  in  that 
which  involves  not  only  the  safety,  but  the  happiness 
and  honor,  of  the  family  in  which  you  have  dwelt  so 
long?" 

He  looked  at  me  with  increased  coldness.  "  I  have 
no  wish  to  discuss  this  subject.  I  believe  I  have  before 
prayed  you  to  spare  me  its  introduction."  And  he 
arose. 

"  But  I  cannot  consider  your  wishes  in  this  regard," 


1 64          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

I  persisted.  "  If  you  know  any  facts,  connected  with 
this  affair,  which  have  not  yet  been  made  public,  it  is 
manifestly  your  duty  to  state  them.  The  position 
which  Miss  Kleanore  occupies  at  this  time  is  one  which 
should  arouse  the  sense  of  justice  in  every  true  breast ; 
and  if  you ' ' 

"  If  I  knew  anything  which  would  serve  to  release 
her  from  her  unhappy  position,  Mr.  Raymond,  I  should 
have  spoken  long  ago." 

I  bit  my  lip,  weary  of  these  continual  bafflings,  and 
rose  also. 

"  If  you  have  nothing  more  to  say,"  he  went  on, 
"  and  feel  utterly  disinclined  to  work,  why,  I  should  be 
glad  to  excuse  myself,  as  I  have  an  engagement  out." 

"  Do  not  let  me  keep  you,"  I  said,  bitterly.  "  I  can 
take  care  of  myself." 

He  turned  upon  me  with  a  short  stare,  as  if  this  dis 
play  of  feeling  was  well  nigh  incomprehensible  to  him ; 
and  then,  with  a  quiet,  almost  compassionate  bow  left 
the  room.  I  heard  him  go  up-stairs,  felt  the  jar  when 
his  room  door  closed,  and  sat  down  to  enjoy  my  soli 
tude.  But  solitude  in  that  room  was  unbearable.  By 
the  time  Mr.  Harwell  again  descended,  I  felt  I  could 
remain  no  longer,  and,  stepping  into  the  hall,  told  him 
that  if  he  had  no  objection  I  would  accompany  him  for 
a  short  stroll. 

He  bowed  a  stiff  assent,  and  hastened  before  me  down 
the  stairs.  By  the  time  I  had  closed  the  library  door, 
he  was  half-way  to  the  foot,  and  I  was  just  remarking 
to  myself  upon  the  unpliability  of  his  figure  and  the 
awkwardness  of  his  carriage,  as  seen  from  my  present 
standpoint,  when  suddenly  I  saw  him  stop,  clutch  the 
banister  at  his  side,  and  hang  there  with  a  startled, 
deathly  expression  upon  his  half-turned  countenance. 


Henry  Clavering 


which  fixed  me  for  an  instant  where  I  was  in  breathless 
astonishment,  and  then  caused  me  to  rush  down  to  his 
side,  catch  him  by  the  arm,  and  cry  : 

11  What  is  it  ?  what  is  the  matter  ?  " 

But,  thrusting  out  his  hand,  he  pushed  me  upwards. 
"  Go  back!  ".he  whispered,  in  a  voice  shaking  with  in- 
tensest  emotion,  "  go  back."  And  catching  me  by  the 
arm,  he  literally  pulled  me  up  the  stairs.  Arrived  at 
the  top,  he  loosened  his  grasp,  and  leaning,  quivering 
from  head  to  foot,  over  the  banisters,  glared  below. 

"  Who  is  that  ?  "  he  cried.  "  Who  is  that  man  ? 
What  is  his  name  ?  " 

Startled  in  my  turn,  I  bent  beside  him,  and  saw  Henry 
Clavering  come  out  of  the  reception  room  and  cross  the 
hall. 

"  That  is  Mr.  Clavering,"  I  whispered,  with  all  the 
self-possession  I  could  muster  ;  "  do  you  know  him  ?  " 

Mr.  Harwell  fell  back  against  the  opposite  wall. 
"  Clavering,  Clavering,"  he  murmured  with  quaking 
lips  ;  then,  suddenly  bounding  forward,  clutched  the 
railing  before  him,  and  fixing  me  with  his  eyes,  from 
which  all  the  stoic  calmness  had  gone  down  forever  in 
flame  and  frenzy,  gurgled  into  my  ear  :  '  '  You  want  to 
know  who  the  assassin  of  Mr.  Leavenworth  is,  do  you  ? 
Look  there,  then:  that  is  the  man,  Clavering  !  "  And 
with  a  leap,  he  bounded  from  my  side,  and,  swaying 
like  a  drunken  man,  disappeared  from  my  gaze  in  the 
hall  above. 

My  first  impulse  was  to  follow  him.  Rushing  up 
stairs,  I  knocked  at  the  door  of  his  room,  but  no  re 
sponse  came  to  my  summons.  I  then  called  his  name 
in  the  hall,  but  without  avail  ;  he  was  determined  not 
to  show  himself.  Resolved  that  he  should  not  thus 
escape  me,  I  returned  to  the  library,  and  wrote  him  a 


i6b  The  Leaven  worth  Case 

short  note,  in  which  I  asked  for  an  explanation  of  his 
tremendous  accusation,  saying  I  would  be  in  my  rooms 
the  next  evening  at  six,  when  I  should  expect  to  see 
him.  This  done  I  descended  to  rejoin  Mary. 

But  the  evening  was  destined  to  be  full  of  disappoint 
ments.  She  had  retired  to  her  room  while  I  was  in  the 
library,  and  I  lost  the  interview  from  which  I  expected 
so  much.  "  The  woman  is  slippery  as  an  eel,"  I  in 
wardly  commented,  pacing  the  hall  in  my  chagrin. 
"  Wrapped  in  mystery,  she  expects  me  to  feel  for  her 
the  respect  due  to  one  of  frank  and  open  nature." 

I  was  about  to  leave  the  house,  when  I  saw  Thomas 
descending  the  stairs  with  a  letter  in  his  hand. 

"  Miss  Leavenworth's  compliments,  sir,  and  she  is  too 
fatigued  to  remain  below  this  evening." 

I  moved  aside  to  read  the  note  he  handed  me,  feeling 
a  little  conscience-stricken  as  I  traced  the  hurried, 
trembling  handwriting  through  the  following  words  : 

"You  ask  more  than  I  can  give.  Matters  must  be  received 
as  they  are  without  explanation  from  me.  It  is  the  grief  of  my 
life  to  deny  you;  hut  I  have  no  choice.  God  forgive  us  all  and 
keep  us  from  despair. 

"M." 

And  below  : 

"As  we  cannot  meet  now  without  embarrassment,  it  is  better 
we  should  bear  our  burdens  in  silence  and  apart.  Mr.  Harwell 
will  visit  you.  Farewell ! " 

As  I  was  crossing  Thirty-second  Street,  I  heard  a 
quick  footstep  behind  me,  and  turning,  saw  Thomas  at 
my  side.  "  Excuse  me,  sir,"  said  he,  "  but  I  have 
something  a  little  particular  to  say  to  you.  When  vou 


Henry  Clavering  167 

asked  me  the  other  night  what  sort  of  a  person  the 
gentleman  was  who  called  on  Miss  Eleanore  the  evening 
of  the  murder,  I  did  n't  answer  you  as  I  should.  The 
fact  is,  the  detectives  had  been  talking  to  me  about  that 
very  thing,  and  I  felt  shy  ;  but,  sir,  I  know  you  are  a 
friend  of  the  family,  and  I  want  to  tell  you  now  that 
that  same  gentleman,  whoever  he  was, —  Mr.  Robbins, 
he  called  himself  then, — was  at  the  house  again  to 
night,  sir,  and  the  name  he  gave  me  this  time  to  carry 
to  Miss  Leaven  worth  was  Clavering.  Yes,  sir,"  he 
went  on,  seeing  me  start ;  "  and,  as  I  told  Molly,  he 
acts  queer  for  a  stranger.  When  he  came  the  other 
night,  he  hesitated  a  long  time  before  asking  for  Miss 
Kleanore,  and  when  I  wanted  his  name,  took  out  a  card 
and  wrote  on  it  the  one  I  told  you  of,  sir,  with  a  look 
on  his  face  a  little  peculiar  for  a  caller  ;  besides " 

"  Well?" 

"  Mr.  Raymond,"  the  butler  went  on,  in  a  low,  ex 
cited  voice,  edging  up  very  closely  to  me  in  the  dark 
ness.  "  There  is  something  I  have  never  told  any 
living  being  but  Molly,  sir,  which  may  be  of  use  to 
those  as  wishes  to  find  out  who  committed  this  murder." 

"  A  fact  or  a  suspicion  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  A  fact,  sir;  which  I  beg  your  pardon  for  troubling 
you  with  at  this  time ;  but  Molly  will  give  me  no  rest 
unless  I  speak  of  it  to  you  or  Mr.  Gryce  ;  her  feelings 
being  so  worked  up  on  Hannah's  account,  whom  we  all 
know  is  innocent,  though  folks  do  dare  to  say  as  how 
she  must  be  guilty  just  because  she  is  not  to  be  found 
the  minute  they  want  her." 

"  But  this  fact  ?  "  I  urged. 

"  Well,  the  fact  is  this.  You  see  —  I  would  tell  Mr. 
Gryce,"  he  resumed,  unconscious  of  my  anxiety,  "  but 
I  have  my  fears  of  detectives,  sir;  they  catch  you  up  so 


1 68          The  Leavenworth  Case 

quick  at  times,  and  seem  to  think  you  know  so  much 
Tnore  than  you  really  do." 

"  But  this  fact,"  I  again  broke  in. 

"  O  yes,  sir  ;  the  fact  is,  that  that  night,  the  one  of 
the  murder  you  know,  I  saw  Mr.  Clavering,  Robbins, 
or  whatever  his  name  is,  enter  the  house,  but  neither  I 
nor  any  one  else  saw  him  go  out  of  it ;  nor  do  I  know 
that  he  did." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,  what  I  mean  is  this.  When  I  came 
down  from  Miss  Kleanore  and  told  Mr.  Robbins,  as  he 
called  himself  at  that  time,  that  my  mistress  was  ill  and 
unable  to  see  him  (the  word  she  gave  me,  sir,  to  de  • 
liver)  Mr.  Robbins,  instead  of  bowing  and  leaving  the 
house  like  a  gentleman,  stepped  into  the  reception 
room  and  sat  down.  He  may  have  felt  sick,  he  looked 
pale  enough  ;  at  any  rate,  he  asked  me  for  a  glass  of 
water.  Not  knowing  any  reason  then  for  suspicionat- 
ing  any  one's  actions,  I  immediately  went  down  to  the 
kitchen  for  it,  leaving  him  there  in  the  reception  room 
alone.  But  before  I  could  get  it,  I  heard  the  front 
door  close.  '  What  's  that  ? '  said  Molly,  who  was 
helping  me,  sir.  *  I  don't  know,'  said  I,  '  unless  it 's 
the  gentleman  has  got  tired  of  waiting  and  gone.'  *  If 
he  's  gone,  he  won't  want  the  water,'  she  said.  So 
down  I  set  the  pitcher,  and  up-stairs  I  come  ;  and  sure 
enough  he  was  gone,  or  so  I  thought  then.  But  who 
knows,  sir,  if  he  was  not  in  that  room  or  the  drawing- 
room,  which  was  dark  that  night,  all  the  time  I  was  a- 
shutting  up  of  the  house  ?  ' ' 

I  made  no  reply  to  this  ;  I  was  more  startled  than  I 
cared  to  reveal. 

"  You  see,  sir,  I  would  n't  speak  of  such  a  thing 
about  any  person  that  comes  to  see  the  young  ladies  ; 


Henry  Clavering  169 

but  we  all  know  some  one  who  was  in  the  house  that 
night  murdered  my  master,  and  as  it  was  not  Han 
nah " 

"  You  say  that  Miss  Eleanore  refused  to  see  him,"  I 
interrupted,  in  the  hope  that  the  simple  suggestion 
would  be  enough  to  elicitate  further  details  of  his  inter 
view  with  Kleanore. 

"  Yes,  sir.  When  she  first  looked  at  the  card,  she 
showed  a  little  hesitation  ;  but  in  a  moment  she  grew 
very  flushed  in  the  face,  and  bade  me  say  what  I  told 
you.  I  should  never  have  thought  of  it  again  if  I  had 
not  seen  him  come  blazoning  and  bold  into  the  house 
this  evening,  with  a  new  name  on  his  tongue.  Indeed, 
and  I  do  not  like  to  think  any  evil  of  him  now  ;  but 
Molly  would  have  it  I  should  speak  to  you,  sir,  and 
ease  my  mind, — and  that  is  all,  sir." 

When  I  arrived  home  that  night,  I  entered  into  my 
memorandum-book  a  new  list  of  suspicious  circum 
stances,  but  this  time  they  were  under  the  caption 
"  C"  instead  of  "  E." 


XIX 

IN  MY  OFFICE 

"Something  between  an  hindrance  and  a  help." 

Wordsworth. 

THE  next  day  as,  with  nerves  unstrung  and  an 
exhausted  brain,  I  entered  my  office,  I  was 
greeted  by  the  announcement : 

"  A  gentleman,  uir,  in  your  private  room  —  been 
waiting  some  time,  very  impatient." 

Weary,  in  no  mood  to  hold  consultation  with  clients 
new  or  old,  I  advanced  with  anything  but  an  eager 
step  towards  my  room,  w'nen,  upon  opening  the  door,  I 
saw  —  Mr.  Clavering. 

Too  much  astounded  for  the  moment  to  speak,  I 
bowed  to  him  silently,  whereupon  he  approached  me 
with  the  air  and  dignity  of  a  highly  bred  gentleman, 
and  presented  his  card,  on  which  I  saw  written,  in  free 
and  handsome  characters,  his  whole  name,  Henry 
Ritchie  Clavering.  After  this  introduction  of  himself, 
he  apologized  for  making  so  unceremonious  a  call,  say 
ing,  in  excuse,  that  he  was  a  stranger  in  town  ;  that  his 
business  was  one  of  great  urgency  ;  that  he  had  casu 
ally  heard  honorable  mention  of  me  as  a  lawyer  and  a 
gentleman,  and  so  had  ventured  to  seek  this  interview 
on  behalf  of  a  friend  who  was  so  unfortunately  situated 
as  to  require  the  opinion  and  advice  of  a  lawyer  upon  a 
question  which  not  only  involved  an  extraordinary 


Henry  Ciavering  171 

state  of  facts,  but  was  of  a  nature  peculiarly  embarrass 
ing  to  him,  owing  to  his  ignorance  of  American  laws* 
•and  the  legal  bearing  of  these  facts  upon  the  same. 

Having  thus  secured  my  attention,  and  awakened  my 
curiosity,  he  asked  me  if  I  would  permit  him  to  relate 
his  story.  Recovering  in  a  measure  from  my  astonish 
ment,  and  subduing  the  extreme  repulsion,  almost 
horror,  I  felt  for  the  man,  I  signified  my  assent;  at 
which  he  drew  from  his  pocket  a  memorandum-book 
from  which  he  read  in  substance  as  follows  : 

"  An  Knglishman  travelling  in  this  country  meets, 
at  a  fashionable  watering-place,  an  American  girl,  with 
whom  he  falls  deeply  in  love,  and  whom,  after  a  few 
days,  he  desires  to  marry.  Knowing  his  position  to  be 
good,  his  fortune  ample,  and  his  intentions  highly 
honorable,  he  offers  her  his  hand,  and  is  accepted.  But 
a  decided  opposition  arising  in  the  family  to  the  match, 
he  is  compelled  to  disguise  his  sentiments,  though  the 
engagement  remained  unbroken.  While  matters  were 
in  this  uncertain  condition,  he  received  advices  from 
England  demanding  his  instant  return,  and,  alarmed  at 
the  prospect  of  a  protracted  absence  from  the  object  of 
his  affections,  he  writes  to  the  lady,  informing  her  of 
the  circumstances,  and  proposing  a  secret  marriage. 
She  consents  with  stipulations  ;  the  first  of  which  is, 
that  he  should  leave  her  instantly  upon  the  conclusion 
of  the  ceremony,  and  the  second,  that  he  should  intrust 
the  public  declaration  of  the  marriage  to  her.  It  was 
not  precisely  what  he  wished,  but  anything  which 
served  to  make  her  his  own  was  acceptable  at  such  a 
crisis.  He  readily  enters  into  the  plans  proposed. 
Meeting  the  lady  at  a  parsonage,  some  twenty  miles 
from  the  watering-place  at  which  she  was  staying,  he 
stands  up  with  her  before  a  Methodist  preacher,  and 


i72          The  Leavenworth  Case 

the  ceremony  of  marriage  is  performed.  There  were 
two  witnesses,  a  hired  man  of  the  minister,  called  in 
for  the  purpose,  and  a  lady  friend  who  came  with  the 
bride  ;  but  there  was  no  license,  and  the  bride  had  not 
completed  her  twenty-first  year.  Now,  was  that  mar 
riage  legal  ?  If  tUe  lady,  wedded  in  good  faith  upon 
that  day  by  my  friend,  chooses  to  deny  that  she  is  his 
lawful  wife,  can  he  hold  her  to  a  compact  entered  into 
in  so  informal  a  manner  ?  In  short,  Mr.  Raymond,  is 
my  friend  the  lawful  husband  of  that  girl  or  not  ?  " 

While  listening  to  this  story,  I  found  myself  yielding 
to  feelings  greatly  in  contrast  to  those  with  which  I 
greeted  the  relator  but  a  moment  before.  I  became  so 
interested  in  his  "  friend's  "  case  as  to  quite  forget,  for 
the  time  being,  that  I  had  ever  seen  or  heard  of  Henry 
Clavering  ;  and  after  learning  that  the  marriage  cere 
mony  took  place  in  the  State  of  New  York,  I  replied  to 
him,  as  near  as  I  can  remember,  in  the  following  words  : 

"  In  this  State,  and  I  believe  it  to  be  American  law, 
marriage  is  a  civil  contract,  requiring  neither  license, 
priest,  ceremony,  nor  certificate  —  and  in  some  cases 
witnesses  are  not  even  necessary  to  give  it  validity. 
Of  old,  the  modes  of  getting  a  wife  were  the  same  as 
those  of  acquiring  any  other  species  of  property,  and 
they  are  'not  materially  changed  at  the  present  time. 
It  is  enough  that  the  man  and  woman  say  to  each 
other,  '  From  this  time  we  are  married,'  or,  *  You  are 
now  my  wife, '  or,  *  my  husband, '  as  the  case  may  be. 
The  mutual  consent  is  all  that  is  necessary.  In  fact, 
you  may  contract  marriage  as  you  contract  to  lend  a 
sum  of  money,  or  to  buy  the  merest  trifle." 

"  Then  your  opinion  is " 

"  That  upon  your  statement,  your  friend  is  the  law 
ful  husband  of  the  lady  in  question  ;  presuming,  of 


Henry  Clavering  173 

course,  that  no  legal  disabilities  of  either  party  existed 
to  prevent  such  a  union.  As  to  the  young  lady's  age, 
I  will  merely  say  that  any  fourteen -year-old  girl  can  be 
a  party  to  a  marriage  contract." 

Mr.  Clavering  bowed,  his  countenance  assuming  a 
look  of  great  satisfaction.  "  I  am  very  glad  to  hear 
this,"  said  he  ;  "  my  friend's  happiness  is  entirely 
involved  in  the  establishment  of  his  marriage." 

He  appeared  so  rc1ieved,  my  curiosity  was  yet  fur 
ther  aroused.  I  therefore  said  :  "  I  have  given  you 
my  opinion  as  to  the  legality  of  this  marriage;  but  it 
may  be  quite  another  thing  to  prove  it,  should  the 
same  be  contested." 

He  started,  cast  me  an  inquiring  look,  and  mur 
mured  : 

"True." 

"  Allow  me  to  ask  you  a  few  questions.  Was  the 
lady  married  under  her  own  name  ?  " 

"She  was." 

"The  gentleman?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Did  the  lady  receive  a  certificate  ?  " 

"She  did." 

"  Properly  signed  by  the  minister  and  witnesses  ?  " 

He  bowed  his  head  in  assent. 

"  Did  she  keep  this  ?" 

"  I  cannot  say  ;  but  I  presume  she  did." 

"  The  witnesses  were " 

"  A  hired  man  of  the  minister " 

"  Who  can  be  found  ?  " 

"  Who  cannot  be  found." 

"  Dead  or  disappeared  ?  " 

;<  The  minister  is  dead,  the  man  has  disappeared." 

"  The  minister  dead  !" 


174  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Three  months  since." 

"  And  the  marriage  took  place  when  ?  " 

"Last  July." 

"  The  other  witness,  the  lady  friend,  where  is  she  ?  " 

"  She  can  be  found  ;  but  her  action  is  not  to  be 
depended  upon." 

'  *  Has  the  gentleman  himself  no  proofs  of  this  mar 
riage?" 

Mr.  Clavering  shook  his  head.  "  He  cannot  even 
prove  he  was  in  the  town  where  it  took  place  on  that 
particular  day." 

"  The  marriage  certificate  was,  however,  filed  with 
the  clerk  of  the  town  ?  ' '  said  I. 

"  It  was  not,  sir." 

"  How  was  that?" 

"  I  cannot  say.  I  only  know  that  my  friend  has 
made  inquiry,  and  that  no  such  paper  is  to  be 
found." 

I  leaned  slowly  back  and  looked  at  him.  "  I  do  not 
wonder  your  friend  is  concerned  in  regard  to  his  posi 
tion,  if  what  you  hint  is  true,  and  the  lady  seems  dis 
posed  to  deny  that  any  such  ceremony  ever  took  place. 
Still,  if  he  wishes  to  go  to  law,  the  Court  may  decide  in 
his  favor,  though  I  doubt  it.  His  sworn  word  is  all 
he  would  have  to  go  upon,  and  if  she  contradicts  his 
testimony  under  oath,  why  the  sympathy  of  a  jury  is, 
as  a  rule,  with  the  woman." 

Mr.  Clavering  rose,  looked  at  me  with  some  earnest 
ness,  and  finally  asked,  in  a  tone  which,  though  some 
what  changed,  lacked  nothing  of  its  former  suavity,  if 
I  would  be  kind  enough  to  give  him  in  writing  that 
portion  of  my  opinion  which  directly  bore  upon  the 
legality  of  the  marriage  ;  that  such  a  paper  would  go 
far  towards  satisfying  his  friend  that  his  case  had  been 


Henry  Clavering  175 

properly  presented;  as  he  was  aware  that  no  respect 
able  lawyer  would  put  his  name  to  a  legal  opinion 
without  first  having  carefully  arrived  at  his  conclusions 
by  a  thorough  examination  of  the  law  bearing  upon 
the  facts  submitted. 

This  request  seeming  so  reasonable,  I  unhesitatingly 
complied  with  it,  and  handed  him  the  opinion.  He 
took  it,  and,  after  reading  it  carefully  over,  deliberately 
copied  it  into  his  memorandum-book.  This  done,  he 
turned  towards  me,  a  strong,  though  hitherto  subdued, 
emotion  showing  itself  in  his  countenance. 

"  Now,  sir,"  said  he,  rising  upon  me  to  the  full 
height  of  his  majestic  figure,  "  I  have  but  one  more 
request  to  make  ;  and  that  is,  that  you  will  receive 
back  this  opinion  into  your  own  possession,  and  in  the 
day  you  think  to  lead  a  beautiful  woman  to  the  altar, 
pause  and  ask  yourself:  *  Am  I  sure  that  the  hand  I 
clasp  with  such  impassioned  fervor  is  free  ?  Have  I 
any  certainty  for  knowing  that  it  has  not  already  been 
given  away,  like  that  of  the  lady  whom,  in  this  opinion 
of  mine,  I  have  declared  to  be  a  wedded  wife  according 
to  the  laws  of  my  country  ?  '  " 

"  Mr.  Clavering!" 

But  he,  with  an  urbane  bow,  laid  his  hand  upon  the 
knob  of  the  door.  "  I  thank  you  for  your  courtesy, 
Mr.  Raymond,  and  I  bid  you  good-day.  I  hope  you 
will  have  no  need  of  consulting  that  paper  before  I 
see  you  again."  And  with  another  bow,  he  passed 
out. 

It  was  the  most  vital  shock  I  had  yet  experienced  ; 
and  for  a  moment  I  stood  paralyzed.  Me  !  me  !  Why 
should  he  mix  me  up  with  the  affair  unless  —  but  I 
would  not  contemplate  that  possibility.  Eleanore  mar 
ried,  and  to  this  man  ?  No,  no  ;  anything  but  that  I 


176          The  Leavenworth  Case 

And  yet  I  found  myself  continually  turning  the  suppo 
sition  over  in  my  mind  until,  to  escape  the  torment  of 
my  own  conjectures,  I  seized  my  hat,  and  rushed  into 
the  street  in  the  hope  of  finding  him  again  and  extort 
ing  from  him  an  explanation  of  his  mysterious  conduct. 
But  by  the  time  I  reached  the  sidewalk,  he  was  no 
where  to  be  seen.  A  thousand  busy  men,  with  their 
various  cares  and  purposes,  had  pushed  themselves  be 
tween  us,  and  I  was  obliged  to  return  to  my  office  with 
my  doubts  unsolved. 

I  think  I  never  experienced  a  longer  day  ;  but  it 
passed,  and  at  five  o'clock  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  in 
quiring  for  Mr.  Clavering  at  the  Hoffman  House.  Judge 
of  my  surprise  when  I  learned  that  his  visit  to  my  office 
was  his  last  action  before  taking  passage  upon  the 
steamer  leaving  that  day  for  Liverpool  ;  that  he  was 
now  on  the  high  seas,  and  all  chance  of  another  inter 
view  with  him  was  at  an  end.  I  could  scarcely  believe 
the  fact  at  first;  but  after  a  talk  with  the  cabman  who 
had  driven  him  off  to  my  office  and  thence  to  the 
steamer,  I  became  convinced.  My  first  feeling  was 
one  of  shame.  I  had  been  brought  face  to  face  with 
the  accused  man,  had  received  an  intimation  from  him 
that  he  was  not  expecting  to  see  me  again  for  some 
time,  and  had  weakly  gone  on  attending  to  my  own 
affairs  and  allowed  him  to  escape,  like  the  simple  tyro 
that  I  was.  My  next,  the  necessity  of  notifying  Mr. 
Gryce  of  this  man's  departure.  But  it  was  now  six 
o'clock,  the  hour  set  apart  for  my  interview  with  Mr. 
Harwell.  I  could  not  afford  to  miss  that,  so  merely 
stopping  to  despatch  a  line  to  Mr.  Gryce,  in  which  I 
promised  to  visit  him  that  evening,  I  turned  my  steps 
towards  home.  I  found  Mr.  Harwell  there  before  me. 


XX 

J*TRUKMAN  !  TRUEMAN  !  TRUEMAN  ! JJ 

"  Often  do  the  spirits 

Of  great  events  stride  on  before  the  events, 
And  in  to-day  already  walks  to-morrow." 

COLERIDGE. 

INSTANTLY  a  great  dread  seized  me.  What  reve- 
1  lations  might  not  this  man  be  going  to  make  !  But 
I  subdued  the  feeling  ;  and,  greeting  him  with  what 
cordiality  I  could,  settled  myself  to  listen  to  his  ex 
planations. 

But  Trueman  Harwell  had  no  explanations  to  give, 
or  so  it  seemed  ;  on  the  contrary,  he  had  come  to  apol 
ogize  for  the  very  violent  words  he  had  used  the  even 
ing  before ;  words  which,  whatever  their  effect  upon 
me,  he  now  felt  bound  to  declare  had  been  used  without 
sufficient  basis  in  fact  to  make  their  utterance  of  the 
least  importance. 

"  But  you  must  have  thought  you  had  grounds  for 
so  tremendous  an  accusation,  or  your  act  was  that  of  a 
madman.'* 

His  brow  wrinkled  heavily,  and  his  eyes  assumed  a 
very  gloomy  expression.  "  It  does  not  follow,"  he 
returned.  "  Under  the  pressure  of  surprise,  I  have 
known  men  utter  convictions  no  better  founded  than 
mine  without  running  the  risk  of  being  called 
mad." 

"Surprise?     Mr.  Clavering's  face  or  form  must; 


178  The  Leavenworth  Case 

then,  have  been  known  to  you.  The  mere  fact  of  see 
ing  a  strange  gentleman  in  the  hall  would  have  been 
insufficient  to  cause  you  astonishment,  Mr.  Harwell." 

He  uneasily  fingered  the  back  of  the  chair  before 
which  he  stood,  but  made  no  reply. 

"  Sit  down,"  I  again  urged,  this  time  with  a  touch 
of  command  in  my  voice.  "  This  is  a  serious  matter, 
and  I  intend  to  deal  with  it  as  it  deserves.  You  once 
said  that  if  you  knew  anything  which  might  serve  to 
exonerate  Eleanore  Leavenworth  from  the  suspicion 
under  which  she  stands,  you  would  be  ready  to  impart 
it." 

* '  Pardon  me.  I  said  that  if  I  had  ever  known  any 
thing  calculated  to  release  her  from  her  unhappy 
position,  I  would  have  spoken,"  he  coldly  corrected. 

1  *  Do  not  quibble.  You  know,  and  I  know,  that  you 
are  keeping  something  back  ;  and  I  ask  you,  in  her 
behalf,  and  in  the  cause  of  justice,  to  tell  me  what  it  is." 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  was  his  dogged  reply.  "  I 
have  reasons,  perhaps,  for  certain  conclusions  I  may 
have  drawn  ;  but  my  conscience  will  not  allow  me  in 
cold  blood  to  give  utterance  to  suspicions  which  may 
not  only  damage  the  reputation  of  an  honest  man,  but 
place  me  in  the  unpleasant  position  of  an  accuser  with 
out  substantial  foundation  for  my  accusations. ' ' 

<l  You  occupy  that  position  already,"  I  retorted,  with 
equal  coldness.  "  Nothing  can  make  me  forget  that  in 
my  presence  you  have  denounced  Henry  Clavering  as 
the  murderer  of  Mr.  Leavenworth.  You  had  better 
explain  yourself,  Mr.  Harwell." 

He  gave  me  a  short  look,  but  moved  around  and  took 
the  chair.  "  You  have  me  at  a  disadvantage,"  he  said, 
in  a  lighter  tone.  "  If  you  choose  to  profit  by  your 
position,  and  press  me  to  disclose  the  little  I  know,  I 


Henry  Clavering  179 

can  only  regret  the  necessity  under  which  I  lie,  and 
speak." 

"  Then  you  are  deterred  by  conscientious  scruples 
alone?" 

"  Yes,  and  by  the  meagreness  of  the  facts  at  my 
command." 

"  I  will  judge  of  the  facts  when  I  have  heard  them." 

He  raised  his  eyes  to  mine,  and  I  was  astonished  to 
observe  a  strange  eagerness  in  their  depths  ;  evidently 
his  convictions  were  stronger  than  his  scruples.  "  Mr. 
Raymond,"  he  began,  "  you  are  a  lawyer,  and  undoubt 
edly  a  practical  man ;  but  you  may  know  what  it  is  to 
scent  danger  before  you  see  it,  to  feel  influences  work 
ing  in  the  air  over  and  about  you,  and  yet  be  in  igno 
rance  of  what  it  is  that  affects  you  so  powerfully,  till 
chance  reveals  that  an  enemy  has  been  at  your  side,  or 
a  friend  passed  your  window,  or  the  shadow  of  death 
crossed  your  book  as  you  read,  or  mingled  with  your 
breath  as  you  slept  ?  " 

I  shook  my  head,  fascinated  by  the  intensity  of  his 
gaze  into  some  sort  of  response. 

"  Then  you  cannot  understand  me,  or  what  I  have 
suffered  these  last  three  weeks. ' '  And  he  drew  back 
with  an  icy  reserve  that  seemed  to  promise  but  little  to 
my  now  thoroughly  awakened  curiosity. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  I  hastened  to  say;  "  but  the 
fact  of  my  never  having  experienced  such  sensations 
does  not  hinder  me  from  comprehending  the  emotions 
of  ethers  more  affected  by  spiritual  influences  than 
myself." 

He  drew  himself  slowly  forward.  * '  Then  you  will 
not  ridicule  me  if  I  say  that  upon  the  eve  of  Mr. 
Leavenworth's  murder  I  experienced  in  a  dream  all 
that  afterwards  occurred  ;  saw  him  murdered,  saw  " — 


i8o          The  Leavenworth  Case 

and  he  clasped  his  hands  before  him,  in  an  atti* 
tude  inexpressibly  convincing,  while  his  voice  sank 
to  a  horrified  whisper,  "  saw  the  face  of  his 
murderer  ! " 

I  started,  looked  at  him  in  amazement,  a  thrill  as  at 
a  ghostly  presence  running  through  me, 

"  And  was  that "  I  began. 

"  My  reason  for  denouncing  the  man  I  beheld  before 
me  in  the  hall  of  Miss  I^eavenworth's  house  last  night  ? 
It  was."  And,  taking  out  his  handkerchief,  he  wiped 
his  forehead,  on  which  the  perspiration  was  standing  in 
large  drops. 

'  You  would  then  intimate  that  the  face  you  saw  in 
your  dream  and  the  face  you  saw  in  the  hall  last  night 
were  the  same?" 

He  gravely  nodded  his  head. 

I  drew  my  chair  nearer  to  his.  "  Tell  me  your 
dream,"  said  I. 

"  It  was  the  night  before  Mr.  Leavenworth's  murder. 
I  had  gone  to  bed  feeling  especially  contented  with 
myself  and  the  world  at  large ;  for,  though  my  life  is  any 
thing  but  a  happy  one,"  and  he  heaved  a  short  sigh, 
"  some  pleasant  words  had  been  said  to  me  that  day, 
and  I  was  revelling  in  the  happiness  they  conferred, 
when  suddenly  a  chill  struck  my  heart,  and  the  dark 
ness  which  a  moment  before  had  appeared  to  me  as  the 
abode  of  peace  thrilled  to  the  sound  of  a  supernatural 
cry,  and  I  heard  my  name,  *  Trueman,  Trueman,  True- 
man,'  repeated  three  times  in  a  voice  I  did  not  recog 
nize,  and  starting  from  my  pillow  beheld  at  my  bedside 
a  woman.  Her  face  was  strange  to  me,"  he  solemnly 
proceeded,  "  but  I  can  give  you  each  and  every  detail 
of  it,  as,  bending  above  me,  she  stared  into  my  eyes 
with  a  growing  terror  that  seemed  to  implore  help, 


Henry  Clavering  181 

though  her  lips  were  quiet,  and  only  the  memory  of 
that  cry  echoed  in  my  ears." 

"  Describe  the  face,'*  I  interposed. 

"  It  was  a  round,  fair,  lady's  face.  Very  lovely  in 
contour,  but  devoid  of  coloring  ;  not  beautiful,  but  win 
ning  from  its  childlike  look  of  trust.  The  hair,  banded 
upon  the  low,  broad  forehead,  was  brown  ;  the  eyes, 
which  were  very  far  apart,  gray  ;  the  mouth,  which 
was  its  most  charming  feature,  delicate  of  make  and 
very  expressive.  There  was  a  dimple  in  the  chin,  but 
none  in  the  cheeks.  It  was  a  face  to  be  remembered." 

"Goon,"  said  I. 

"  Meeting  the  gaze  of  those  imploring  eyes,  I  started 
up.  Instantly  the  face  and  all  vanished,  and  I  became 
conscious,  as  we  sometimes  do  in  dreams,  of  a  certain 
movement  in  the  hall  below,  and  the  next  instant  the 
gliding  figure  of  a  man  of  imposing  size  entered  the 
library.  I  remember  experiencing  a  certain  thrill  at 
this,  half  terror,  half  curiosity,  though  I  seemed  to 
know,  as  if  by  intuition,  what  he  was  going  to  do. 
Strange  to  say,  I  now  seemed  to  change  my  personality, 
and  to  be  no  longer  a  third  party  watching  these  pro 
ceedings,  but  Mr.  Leavenworth  himself,  sitting  at  his 
library  table  and  feeling  his  doom  crawling  upon  him 
without  capacity  for  speech  or  power  of  movement  to 
avert  it.  Though  my  back  was  towards  the  man,  I 
could  feel  his  stealthy  form  traverse  the  passage,  enter 
the  room  beyond,  pass  to  that  stand  where  the  pistol 
was,  try  the  drawer,  find  it  locked,  turn  the  key,  pro 
cure  the  pistol,  weigh  it  in  an  accustomed  hand,  and 
advance  again.  I  could  feel  each  footstep  he  took  as 
though  his  feet  were  in  truth  upon  my  heart,  and  I 
remember  staring  at  the  table  before  me  as  if  I  ex 
pected  every  moment  to  see  it  run  with  my  own  blood. 


1 82  The  Leavenworth  Case 

I  can  see  now  how  the  letters  I  had  been  writing  danced 
upon  the  paper  before  me,  appearing  to  my  eyes  to 
take  the  phantom  shapes  of  persons  and  things  long 
ago  forgotten  ;  crowding  my  last  moments  with  regrets 
and  dead  shames,  wild  longings,  and  unspeakable  ago 
nies,  through  all  of  which  that  face,  the  face  of  my 
former  dream,  mingled,  pale,  sweet,  and  searching, 
while  closer  and  closer  behind  me  crept  that  noiseless 
foot  till  I  could  feel  the  glaring  of  the  assassin's  eyes 
across  the  narrow  threshold  ^separating  me  from  death 
and  hear  the  click  of  his  teeth  as  he  set  his  lips  for  the 
final  act.  Ah!  "  and  the  secretary's  livid  face  showed 
the  touch  of  awful  horror,  ' '  what  words  can  describe 
such  an  experience  as  that  ?  In  one  moment,  all  the 
agonies  of  hell  in  the  heart  and  brain,  the  next  a  blank 
through  which  I  seemed  to  see  afar,  and  as  if  suddenly 
removed  from  all  this,  a  crouching  figure  looking  at  its 
work  with  starting  eyes  and  pallid  back-drawn  lips  ; 
and  seeing,  recognize  no  face  that  I  had  ever  known, 
but  one  so  handsome,  so  remarkable,  so  unique  in  its 
formation  and  character,  that  it  would  be  as  easy  for 
me  to  mistake  the  countenance  of  my  father  as  the 
look  and  figure  of  the  man  revealed  to  me  in  my 
dream." 

"  And  this  face  ?  "  said  I,  in  a  voice  I  failed  to  recog 
nize  as  my  own. 

"  Was  that  of  him  whom  we  saw  leave  Mary  Leaven- 
worth's  presence  last  night  and  go  down  the  hall  to 
the  front  door." 


XXI 

A  PREJUDICE 

11  True,  I  talk  of  dreams, 
Which  are  the  children  of  an  idle  brain 
Begot  of  nothing  but  vain  phantasy." 

Romeo  and  Juliet. 

FOR  one  moment  I  sat  a  prey  to  superstitious  horror; 
then,  my  natural  incredulity  asserting  itself,  i 
looked  up  and  remarked  : 

"  You  say  that  all  this  took  place  the  night  previous 
to  the  actual  occurrence  ?  ' ' 

He  bowed  his  head.     "  For  a  warning,"  he  declared. 

' '  But  you  did  not  seem  to  take  it  as  such  ?  ' ' 

"  No  ;  I  am  subject  to  horrible  dreams.  I  thought 
but  little  of  it  in  a  superstitious  way  till  I  looked  next 
day  upon  Mr.  Leavenworth's  dead  body." 

"  I  do  not  wonder  you  behaved  strangely  at  the 
inquest." 

"  Ah,  sir,"  he  returned,  with  a  slow,  sad  smile  ;  "  no 
one  knows  what  I  suffered  in  my  endeavors  not  to  tell 
more  than  I  actually  knew,  irrespective  of  my  dream, 
of  this  murder  and  the  manner  of  its  accomplishment." 

"  You  believe,  then,  that  your  dream  foreshadowed 
the  manner  of  the  murder  as  well  as  the  fact  ?  " 

"  I  do." 

"  It  is  a  pity  it  did  not  go  a  little  further,  then,  and 
tell  us  how  the  assassin  escaped  from,  if  not  how  he 
entered,  a  house  so  securely  fastened." 

183 


184          The  Leavenworth  Case 

His  face  flushed.  "That  would  have  been  con 
venient,"  he  repeated.  "  Also,  if  I  had  been  informed 
where  Hannah  was,  and  why  a  stranger  and  a  gentle 
man  should  have  stooped  to  the  committal  of  such  a 
crime." 

Seeing  that  he  was  nettled,  I  dropped  my  bantering 
vein.  "  Why  do  you  say  a  stranger  ?  "  I  asked  ;  "  are 
you  so  well  acquainted  with  all  who  visit  that  house  as 
to  be  able  to  say  who  are  and  who  are  not  strangers  to 
the  family?" 

"  I  am  well  acquainted  with  the  faces  of  their  friends, 
and  Henry  Clavering  is  not  amongst  the  number  ; 
but " 

"  Were  you  ever  with  Mr.  Leavenworth,"  I  inter 
rupted,  "  when  he  has  been  away  from  home  ;  in  the 
country,  for  instance,  or  upon  his  travels  ?  ' ' 

1 '  No. ' '    But  the  negative  came  with  some  constraint. 

"  Yet  I  suppose  he  was  in  the  habit  of  absenting 
himself  from  home  ?  ' ' 

"  Certainly." 

"  Can  you  tell  me  where  he  was  last  July,  he  and 
the  ladies?" 

"  Yes,  sir;  they  went  to  R .  The  famous  water 
ing-place,  you  know.  Ah,"  he  cried,  seeing  a  change 
in  my  face,  "  do  you  think  he  could  have  met  them 
there?" 

I  looked  at  him  for  a  moment,  then,  rising  in  my  turn, 
stood  level  with  him,  and  exclaimed  : 

"  You  are  keeping  something  back,  Mr.  Harwell ; 
you  have  more  knowledge  of  this  man  than  you  have 
hitherto  given  me  to  understand.  What  is  it  ?  " 

He  seemed  astonished  at  my  penetration,  but  replied: 
"  I  know  no  more  of  the  man  than  I  have  already  in 
formed  you;  but  " — and  a  burning  flush  crossed  his  face, 


Henry  Clavering  185 

"  if  you  are  determined  to  pursue  this  matter — "  and 
he  paused,  with  an  inquiring  look. 

"  I  am  resolved  to  find  out  all  I  can  about  Henry 
Clavering,"  was  my  decided  answer, 

' '  Then, ' '  said  he,  '  *  I  can  tell  you  this  much.  Henry 
Clavering  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Leavenworth  a  few  days 
before  the  murder,  which  I  have  some  reason  to  believe 
produced  a  marked  effect  upon  the  household."  And, 
folding  his  arms,  the  secretary  stood  quietly  awaiting 
my  next  question. 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  opened  it  by  mistake.  I  was  in  the  habit  of 
reading  Mr.  Leaven  worth's  business  letters,  and  this, 
being  from  one  unaccustomed  to  write  to  him,  lacked 
the  mark  which  usually  distinguished  those  of  a  private 
nature." 

"  And  you  saw  the  name  of  Clavering  ?  " 

"  I  did  ;  Henry  Ritchie  Clavering." 

"  Did  you  read  the  letter  ?  "     I  was  trembling  now. 

The  secretary  did  not  reply. 

"  Mr.  Harwell,"  I  reiterated,  "  this  is  no  time  for 
false  delicacy.  Did  you  read  that  letter  ?  ' ' 

"  I  did;  but  hastily,  and  with  an  agitated  conscience." 
'  You  can,  however,  recall  its  general  drift  ?  " 

"  It  was  some  complaint  in  regard  to  the  treatment 
received  by  him  at  the  hand  of  one  of  Mr.  Leaven 
worth's  nieces.     I  remember  nothing  more." 

"  Which  niece?" 

"  There  were  no  names  mentioned." 

11  But  you  inferred " 

"  No,  sir  ;  that  is  just  what  I  did  not  do.  I  forced 
myself  to  forget  the  whole  thing." 

"  And  yet  you  say  it  produced  an  effect  upon  the 
family?" 


1 86  The  Leavenworth  Case 

11 1  can  see  now  that  it  did.  None  of  them  have  ever 
appeared  quite  the  same  as  before." 

"  Mr.  Harwell,"  I  gravely  continued  ;  "  when  you 
were  questioned  as  to  the  receipt  of  any  letter  by  Mr. 
Leavenworth,  which  might  seem  in  any  manner  to  be 
connected  with  this  tragedy,  you  denied  having  seen 
any  such  ;  how  was  that  ?  ' ' 

"  Mr.  Raymond,  you  are  a  gentleman  ;  have  a  chiv 
alrous  regard  for  the  ladies  ;  do  you  think  you  could 
have  brought  yourself  (even  if  in  your  secret  heart  you 
considered  some  such  result  possible,  which  I  am  not 
ready  to  say  I  did)  to  mention,  at  such  a  time  as  that, 
the  receipt  of  a  letter  complaining  of  the  treatment  re 
ceived  from  one  of  Mr.  L,eavenworth's  nieces,  as  a  sus 
picious  circumstance  worthy  to  be  taken  into  account 
by  a  coroner's  jury  ?  " 

I  shook  my  head.  I  could  not  but  acknowledge  the 
impossibility. 

"  What  reason  had  I  for  thinking  that  letter  was  one 
of  importance  ?  I  knew  of  no  Henry  Ritchie  Clavering. " 

"  And  yet  you  seemed  to  think  it  was.  I  remember 
you  hesitated  before  replying. ' ' 

"  It  is  true;  but  not  as  I  should  hesitate  now,  if  the 
question  were  put  to  me  again." 

Silence  followed  these  words,  during  which  I  took 
two  or  three  turns  up  and  down  the  room. 

"  This  is  all  very  fanciful,"  I  remarked,  laughing  in 
the  vain  endeavor  to  throw  off  the  superstitious  horror 
his  words  had  awakened. 

He  bent  his  head  in  assent.  "  I  know  it,"  said  he. 
"  I  am  practical  myself  in  broad  daylight,  and  recognize 
the  flimsiness  of  an  accusation  based  upon  a  poor,  hard 
working  secretary's  dream,  as  plainly  as  you  do.  This 
is  the'  reason  I  desired  to  keep  from  speaking  at  all ; 


Henry  Clavering  187 

but,  Mr.  Raymond,"  and  his  long,  thin  hand  fell  upon 
my  arm  with  a  nervous  intensity  which  gave  me  almost 
the  sensation  of  an  electrical  shock,  "  if  the  murderer 
of  Mr.  L,eavenworth  is  ever  brought  to  confess  his  deed, 
mark  my  words,  he  will  prove  to  be  the  man  of  my 
dream. ' ' 

I  drew  a  long  breath.  For  a  moment  his  belief  was 
mine  ;  and  a  mingled  sensation  of  relief  and  exquisite 
pain  swept  over  me  as  I  thought  of  the  possibility  of 
Eleanore  being  exonerated  from  crime  only  to  be 
plunged  into  fresh  humiliation  and  deeper  abysses  of 
suffering. 

"  He  stalks  the  streets  in  freedom  now,"  the  secretary 
went  on,  as  if  to  himself;  "  even  dares  to  enter  the  hou 
he  has  so  wofully  desecrated;  but  justice  is  justice  an 
sooner  or  later,  something  will  transpire  which  will 
prove  to  you  that  a  premonition  so  wonderful  as  that  I 
received  had  its  significance  ;  that  the  voice  calling 
"Trueman,  Trueman,'  was  something  more  than  the 
empty  utterances  of  an  excited  brain  ;  that  it  was  Jus 
tice  itself,  calling  attention  to  the  guilty." 

I  looked  at  him  in  wonder.     Did  he  know  that  the 
officers  of  justice  were  already  upon  the  track  of  thisi 
same  Clavering  ?     I  judged  not  from  his  look,  but  felt  I 
an  inclination  to  make  an  effort  and  see. 

"  You  speak  with  strange  conviction,"  I  said;  "  but 
in  all  probability  you  are  doomed  to  be  disappointed. 
So  far  as  we  know,  Mr. Clavering  is  a  respectable  man." 

He  lifted  his  hat  from  the  table.  "  I  do  not  propose 
to  denounce  him  ;  I  do  not  even  propose  to  speak  his 
name  again.  I  am  not  a  fool,  Mr.  Raymond.  I  have 
spoken  thus  plainly  to  you  only  in  explanation  of  last 
night's  most  unfortunate  betrayal  ;  and  while  I  trust 
you  will  regard  what  1  have  told  you  as  confidential,  I 


1 88  The  Leavenworth  Case 

also  hope  you  will  give  me  credit  for  behaving,  on  the 
whole,  as  well  as  could  be  expected  under  the  circum 
stances.  '  *  And  he  held  out  his  hand. 

"  Certainly,"  I  replied  as  I  took  it.  Then,  with  a 
sudden  impulse  to  test  the  accuracy  of  this  story  of  his, 
inquired  if  he  had  any  means  of  verifying  his  statement 
of  having  had  this  dream  at  the  time  spoken  of:  that  is, 
before  the  murder  and  not  afterwards. 

"  No,  sir;  I  know  myself  that  I  had  it  the  night  pre 
vious  to  that  of  Mr.  Leaven  worth's  death;  but  I  cannot 
prove  the  fact." 

* '  Did  not  speak  of  it  next  morning  to  any  one  ?  ' ' 

"  O  no,  sir  ;  I  was  scarcely  in  a  position  to  do  so." 

* '  Yet  it  must  have  had  a  great  effect  upon  you,  un 
fitting  you  for  work " 

"  Nothing  unfits  me  for  work,"  was  his  bitter  reply. 

"  I  believe  you,"  I  returned,  remembering  his  dili 
gence  for  the  last  few  days.  "  But  you  must  at  least 
have  shown  some  traces  of  having  passed  an  uncom 
fortable  night.  Have  you  no  recollection  of  any  one 
speaking  to  you  in  regard  to  your  appearance  the  next 
morning  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Leavenworth  may  have  done  so;  no  one  else 
would  be  likely  to  notice."  There  was  sadness  in  the 
tone,  and  my  own  voice  softened  as  I  said  : 

"  I  shall  not  be  at  the  house  to-night,  Mr.  Harwell ; 
nor  do  I  know  when  I  shall  return  there.  Personal 
considerations  keep  me  from  Miss  Leavenworth' s 
presence  for  a  time,  and  I  look  to  you  to  carry  on  the 
work  we  have  undertaken  without  my  assistance,  unless 
you  can  bring  it  here " 

"  I  can  do  that." 

"  I  shall  expect  you,  then,  to-morrow  evening." 

"  Very  well,  sir  " ;  and  he  was  going,  when  a  sudden 


Henry  Clavering  189 

thought  seemed  to  strike  him.  "Sir,"  he  said,  "  as 
we  do  not  wish  to  return  to  this  subject  again,  and  as 
I  have  a  natural  curiosity  in  regard  to  this  man,  would 
you  object  to  telling  me  what  you  know  of  him  ?  You 
believe  him  to  be  a  respectable  man ;  are  you  acquainted 
with  him,  Mr.  Raymond  ?  " 

"  I  know  his  name,  and  where  he  resides." 

"And  where  is  that?" 

"  In  London  ;  he  is  an  Englishman." 

"  Ah  !  "  he  murmured,  with  a  strange  intonation. 

"  Why  do  you  say  that  ?  " 

He  bit  his  lip,  looked  down,  then  up,  finally  fixed 
his  eyes  on  mine,  and  returned,  with  marked  emphasis  : 
"  I  used  an  exclamation,  sir,  because  I  was  startled." 

"Startled?" 

1 '  Yes  ;  you  say  he  is  an  Englishman.  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth  had  the  most  bitter  antagonism  to  the  English. 
It  was  one  of  his  marked  peculiarities.  He  would 
never  be  introduced  to  one  if  he  could  help  it." 

It  was  my  turn  to  look  thoughtful. 

"  You  know,"  continued  the  secretary,  "  that  Mr. 
Leavenworth  was  a  man  who  carried  his  prejudices  to 
the  extreme.  He  had  a  hatred  for  the  English  race 
amounting  to  mania.  If  he  had  known  the  letter  I 
have  mentioned  was  from  an  Englishman,  I  doubt  if 
he  would  have  read  it.  He  used  to  say  he  would 
sooner  see  a  daughter  of  his  dead  before  him  than 
married  to  an  Englishman." 

I  turned  hastily  aside  to  hide  the  effect  which  this 
announcement  made  upon  me. 

"  You  think  I  am  exaggerating,"  he  said.  "  Ask 
Mr.  Veeley." 

"  No,"  I  replied.     "  I  have  no  reason  for  thinking 


1 90          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  He  had  doubtless  some  cause  for  hating  the  Eng 
lish  with  which  we  are  unacquainted,"  pursued  the 
secretary.  "  He  spent  some  time  in  Liverpool  when 
young,  and  had,  of  course,  many  opportunities  for  study 
ing  their  manners  and  character."  And  the  secretary 
made  another  movement,  as  if  to  leave. 

But  it  was  my  turn  to  detain  him  now.  "  Mr.  Har 
well,  you  must  excuse  me.  You  have  been  on  familiar 
terms  with  Mr.  Leavenworth  for  so  long.  Do  you 
think  that,  in  the  case  of  one  of  his  nieces,  say,  desiring 
to  marry  a  gentleman  of  that  nationality,  his  prejudice 
was  sufficient  to  cause  him  to  absolutely  forbid  the 
match?" 

11 1  do." 

I  moved  back.  I  had  learned  what  I  wished,  and 
saw  no  further  reason  for  prolonging  the  interview. 


XXII 

PATCH-WORK 

"Come,  give  us  a  taste  of  your  quality." 

Hamlet. 

OTARTING  with  the  assumption  that  Mr.  Clavering 
v^  in  his  conversation  of  the  morning  had  been 
giving  me,  with  more  or  less  accuracy,  a  detailed  ac 
count  of  his  own  experience  and  position  regardingElea- 
nore  Leavenworth,  I  asked  myself  what  particular  facts 
it  would  be  necessary  for  me  to  establish  in  order  to  prove 
the  truth  of  this  assumption,  and  found  them  to  be  : 

I.  That  Mr.  Clavering  had  not  only  been  in  this 
country  at  the  time  designated,  but  that  he  had  been 
located  for  some  little  time  at  a  watering-place  in  New 
York  State. 

II.  That  this  watering-place  should  correspond  to 
the  one  in  which   Miss  Eleanore   Leavenworth   was 
staying  at  the  same  time. 

III.  That  they  had  been  seen  while  there  to  hold 
more  or  less  communication. 

IV.  That  they  had  both  been  absent  from  town,  at 
some  one  time,  long  enough  to  have  gone  through  the 
ceremony  of  marriage  at  a  point  twenty  miles  or  so 
away. 

V.  That  a  Methodist  clergyman,  who  has  since  died, 
lived  at  that  time  within  a  radius  of  twenty  miles  of  said 
watering-place. 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


I  next  asked  myself  how  I  was  to  establish  these 
facts.  Mr.  Clavering's  life  was  as  yet  too  little  known 
to  me  to  offer  me  any  assistance  ;  so,  leaving  it  for  the 
present,  I  took  up  the  thread  of  Eleanore's  history,  and 
found  that  at  the  time  given  me  she  had  been  in  R  -  , 
a  fashionable  watering-place  in  this  State.  Now,  if 
this  was  true,  and  my  theory  correct,  he  must  have 
been  there  also.  To  prove  this  fact,  became,  conse 
quently,  my  first  business.  I  resolved  to  go  to  R  - 
on  the  morrow. 

But  before  proceeding  in  an  undertaking  of  such  im 
portance,  I  considered  it  expedient  to  make  such  in 
quiries  and  collect  such  facts  as  the  few  hours  I  had  left 
to  work  in  rendered  possible.  I  went  first  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  Gryce. 

I  found  him  lying  upon  a  hard  sofa,  in  the  bare 
sitting-room  I  have  before  mentioned,  suffering  from  a 
severe  attack  of  rheumatism.  His  hands  were  done  up 
in  bandages,  and  his  feet  incased  in  multiplied  folds  of  a 
dingy  red  shawl  which  looked  as  if  it  had  been  through 
the  wars.  Greeting  me  with  a  short  nod  that  was  both 
a  welcome  and  an  apology,  he  devoted  a  few  words  to 
an  explanation  of  his  unwonted  position;  and  then, 
without  further  preliminaries,  rushed  into  the  subject 
which  was  uppermost  in  both  cur  minds  by  inquiring, 
in  a  slightly  sarcastic  way,  if  I  was  very  much  surprised 
to  find  my  bird  flown  when  I  returned  to  the  Hoffman 
House  that  afternoon. 

"  I  was  astonished  to  find  you  allowed  him  to  fly  at 
this  time,"  I  replied.  "  From  the  manner  in  which 
you  requested  me  to  make  his  acquaintance,  I  supposed 
you  considered  him  an  important  character  in  the 
tragedy  which  has  just  been  enacted." 

"  And  what  makes  you  think  I  don't  ?    Oh,  the  fact 


Henry  Clavering  193 

that  I  let  him  go  off  so  easily  ?  That  's  no  proof.  I 
never  fiddle  with  the  brakes  till  the  car  starts  down-hill. 
But.  let  that  pass  for  the  present  j  Mr.  Clavering,  then, 
did  not  explain  himself  before  going  ?  " 

"  That  is  a  question  which  I  find  it  exceedingly  diffi 
cult  to  answer.  Hampered  by  circumstances,  I  cannot 
at  present  speak  with  the  directness  which  is  your  due, 
but  what  I  can  say,  I  will.  Know,  then,  that  in  my 
opinion,  Mr.  Clavering  did  explain  himself  in  an  inter 
view  with  me  this  morning.  But  it  was  done  in  so 
blind  a  way,  it  will  be  necessary  for  me  to  make  a  few 
investigations  before  I  shall  feel  sufficiently  sure  of  my 
ground  to  take  you  into  my  confidence.  He  has  given 
me  a  possible  clue " 

"  Wait,"  said  Mr.  Gryce  ;  "does  he  know  this? 
Was  it  done  intentionally  and  with  sinister  motive,  or 
unconsciously  and  in  plain  good  faith  ?  " 

"  In  good  faith,  I  should  sa}^." 

Mr.  Gryce  remained  silent  for  a  moment.  "  It  is 
very  unfortunate  you  cannot  explain  yourself  a  little 
more  definitely,"  he  said  at  last.  "  I  am  almost  afraid 
to  trust  you  to  make  investigations,  as  you  call  them, 
on  your  own  hook.  You  are  not  used  to  the  business, 
and  will  lose  time,  to  say  nothing  of  running  upon  false 
scents,  and  using  up  your  strength  on  unprofitable 
details." 

1  *  You  should  have  thought  of  that  when  you  admitted 
me  into  partnership." 

"  And  you  absolutely  insist  upon  working  this  mine 
alcne  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Gryce,  the  matter  stands  just  here.  Mr. 
Clavering,  for  all  I  know,  is  a  gentleman  of  untar 
nished  reputation.  I  am  not  even  aware  for  what  pur 
pose  you  set  me  upon  his  trail.  I  only  know  that  in 


194  The  Leavenworth  Case 

thus  following  it  I  have  come  upon  certain  facts  that 
seem  worthy  of  further  investigation." 

"  Well,  well;  you  know  best.  But  the  days  are  slip 
ping  by.  Something  must  be  done,  and  soon.  The 
public  are  becoming  clamorous. ' ' 

1  *  I  know  it,  and  for  that  reason  I  have  come  to  you 
for  such  assistance  as  you  can  give  me  at  this  stage  of 
the  proceedings.  You  are  in  possession  of  certain  facts 
relating  to  this  man  which  it  concerns  me  to  know,  or 
your  conduct  in  reference  to  him  has  been  purposeless. 
Now,  frankly,  will  you  make  me  master  of  those  facts  : 
in  short,  tell  me  all  you  know  of  Mr.  Clavering,  without 
requiring  an  immediate  return  of  confidence  on  my 
part?" 

'  That  is  asking  a  great  deal  of  a  professional 
detective." 

' '  I  know  it,  and  under  other  circumstances  I  should 
hesitate  long  before  preferring  such  a  request ;  but  as 
things  are,  I  don't  see  how  I  am  to  proceed  in  the  matter 
without  some  such  concession  on  your  part.  At  all 
events " 

"  Wait  a  moment  !  Is  not  Mr.  Clavering  the  lover 
of  one  of  the  young  ladies  ?  " 

Anxious  as  I  was  to  preserve  the  secret  of  my  interest 
in  that  gentleman,  I  could  not  prevent  the  blush  from 
rising  to  my  face  at  the  suddenness  of  this  question. 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  he  went  on.  "  Being  neither 
a  relative  nor  acknowledged  friend,  I  took  it  for  granted 
he  must  occupy  some  such  position  as  that  in  the 
family." 

"  I  do  not  see  why  you  should  draw  such  an  in 
ference,"  said  I,  anxious  to  determine  how  much  he 
knew  about  him.  "  Mr.  Clavering  is  a  stranger  in 
town  ;  has  not  even  been  in  this  country  long  ;  has 


Henry  Clavering  195 

indeed  had  no  time  to  establish  himself  upon  any  such 
footing  as  you  suggest. ' ' 

"  This  is  not  the  only  time  Mr.  Clavering  has  been 
in  New  York.  He  was  here  a  year  ago  to  my  certain 
knowledge.'* 

"You  know  that?" 

"  Yes." 

"  How  much  more  do  you  know  ?  Can  it  be  possible 
I  am  groping  blindly  about  for  facts  which  are  already 
in  your  possession  ?  I  pray  you  listen  to  my  entreaties, 
Mr.  Gryce,  and  acquaint  me  at  once  with  what  I  want 
to  know.  You  will  not  regret  it.  I  have  no  selfish 
motive  in  this  matter.  If  I  succeed,  the  glory  shall  be 
yours;  ii  I  fail,  the  shame  of  the  defeat  shall  be  mine." 

"  That  is  fair,"  he  muttered.  "  And  how  about  the 
reward  ?  " 

"  My  reward  will  be  to  free  an  innocent  woman  from 
the  imputation  of  crime  which  hangs  over  her." 

This  assurance  seemed  to  satisfy  him.  His  voice  and 
appearance  changed  ;  for  a  moment  he  looked  quite 
confidential.  "  Well,  well,"  said  he;  "  and  what  is  it 
you  want  to  know  ?  " 

"  I  should  first  like  to  know  how  your  suspicions 
came  to  light  on  him  at  all.  What  reason  had  you  for 
thinking  a  gentleman  of  his  bearing  and  position  was 
in  any  way  connected  with  this  affair  ?  " 

"  That  is  a  question  you  ought  not  to  be  obliged  to 
put,"  he  returned. 

"How  so?" 

"  Simply  because  the  opportunity  of  answering  it  was 
in  your  hands  before  ever  it  came  into  mine." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  remember  the  letter  mailed  in  your 
presence  by  Miss  Mary  Leavenworth  during  your 


196  The  Leavenworth  Case 

drive  from  her  home  to  that  of  her  friend  in  Thirty- 
seventh  Street  ?  " 

"  On  the  afternoon  of  the  inquest  ?  " 

'*  Yes." 

"  Certainly,  but — -" 

*  You  neve/  thought  to  look  at  its  superscription  be- 
:>re  it  was  dropped  into  the  box. ' ' 

"  I  had  neither  opportunity  nor  right  to  do  so." 

"  Was  it  not  written  in  your  presence  ?  " 

"  It  was." 

"  And  you  never  regarded  the  affair  as  worth  your 
ttention?" 

' '  However  I  may  have  regarded  it,  I  did  not  see  how 
I  could  prevent  Miss  Leavenworth  from  dropping  a 
letter  into  a  box  if  she  chose  to  do  so." 

That  is  because  you  are  &  gentleman.     Well,  it  has 
disadvantages,"  he  muttered  broodingly. 

"  But  you,"  said  I  ;  "  how  came  you  to  know  any 
thing  about  this  letter  ?  Ah,  I  see, ' '  remembering  that 
the  carriage  in  which  we  were  riding  at  the  time 
had  been  procured  for  us  by  him.  "  The  man  on 
the  box  was  in  your  pay,  and  informed,  as  you  call 
it." 

Mr.  Gryce  winked  at  his  muffled  toes  mysteriously. 
"  That  is  not  the  point,"  he  said.  "  Enough  that  I 
heard  that  a  letter,  which  might  reasonably  prove  to  be 
of  some  interest  to  me,  had  been  dropped  at  such  an 
hour  into  the  box  on  the  corner  of  a  certain  street. 
That,  coinciding  in  the  opinion  of  my  informant,  I  tele 
graphed  to  the  station  connected  with  that  box  to  take 
note  of  the  address  of  a  suspicious-looking  letter  about 
to  pass  through  their  hands  on  the  way  to  the  General 
Post  Office,  and  following  up  the  telegram  in  person, 
found  that  a  curious  epistle  addressed  in  lead  pencil 


Henry  Clavering  197 

and  sealed  with  a  stamp,  had  just  arrived,  the  address 
of  which  I  was  allowed  to  see " 

"  And  which  was?" 

"  Henry  R.  Clavering,  Hoffman  House,  New  York.0 

I  drew  a  deep  breath.  "  And  so  that  is  how  your 
attention  first  came  to  be  directed  to  this  man  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Strange.     But  go  on  —  what  next  ?  " 

'  *  Why,  next  I  followed  up  the  clue  by  going  to  the 
Hoffman  House  and  instituting  inquiries.  I  learned 
that  Mr.  Clavering  was  a  regular  guest  of  the  hotel. 
That  he  had  come  there,  direct  from  the  Liverpool 
steamer,  about  three  months  since,  and,  registering  his 
name  as  Henry  R.  Clavering,  Esq.,  London,  had  en 
gaged  a  first-class  room  which  he  had  kept  ever  since. 
That,  although  nothing  definite  was  known  concerning 
him,  he  had  been  seen  with  various  highly  respectable 
people,  both  of  his  own  nation  and  ours,  by  all  of  whom 
he  was  treated  with  respect.  And  lastty,  that  while  not 
liberal,  he  had  given  many  evidences  of  being  a  man 
of  means.  So  much  done,  I  entered  the  office,  and 
waited  for  him  to  come  in,  in  the  hope  of  having  an 
opportunity  to  observe  his  manner  when  the  clerk 
handed  him  that  strange-looking  letter  from  Mary 
Leavenworth." 

"  And  did  you  succeed  ?  " 

"  No;  an  awkward  gawk  of  a  fellow  stepped  between 
us  just  at  the  critical  moment,  and  shut  off  my  view. 
But  I  heard  enough  that  evening  from  the  clerk  and 
servants,  of  the  agitation  he  had  shown  on  receiving  it, 
to  convince  me  I  was  upon  a  trail  worth  following.  I 
accordingly  put  on  my  men,  and  for  two  days  Mr. 
Clavering  was  subjected  to  the  most  rigid  watch  a  man 
ever  walked  under.  But  nothing  was  gained  by  it;  his 


198  The  Leavenworth  Case 

interest  in  the  murder,  if  interest  at  all,  was  a  secret 
one;  and  though  he  walked  the  streets,  studied  the 
papers,  and  haunted  the  vicinity  of  the  house  in  Fifth 
Avenue,  he  not  only  refrained  from  actually  approach 
ing  it,  but  made  no  attempt  to  communicate  with  any 
of  the  family.  Meanwhile,  you  crossed  my  path,  and 
with  your  determination  incited  me  to  renewed  effort. 
Convinced  from  Mr.  Clavering's  bearing,  and  the  gossip 
I  had  by  this  time  gathered  in  regard  to  him,  that  no 
one  short  of  a  gentleman  and  a  friend  could  succeed  in 
getting  at  the  clue  of  his  connection  with  this  family,  I 
handed  him  over  to  you,  and " 

"  Found  me  rather  an  unmanageable  colleague." 

Mr.  Gryce  smiled  very  much  as  if  a  sour  plum  had 
been  put  in  his  mouth,  but  made  no  reply  ;  and  a 
momentary  pause  ensued. 

"  Did  you  think  to  inquire,"  I  asked  at  last,  "  if  any 
one  knew  where  Mr.  Clavering  had  spent  the  evening 
of  the  murder  ?  ' ' 

"  Yes  ;  but  with  no  good  result.  It  was  agreed  he 
went  out  during  the  evening  ;  also  that  he  was  in  his 
bed  in  the  morning  when  the  servant  came  in  to  make 
his  fire;  but  further  than  this  no  one  seemed  posted." 

"  So  that,  in  fact,  you  gleaned  nothing  that  would  in 
any  way  connect  this  man  with  the  murder  except  his 
marked  and  agitated  interest  in  it,  and  the  fact  that  a 
niece  of  the  murdered  man  had  written  a  letter  to 
him?" 

"That  is  all." 

"  Another  question  ;  did  you  hear  in  what  manner 
and  at  what  time  he  procured  a  newspaper  that 
evening  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  only  learned  that  he  was  observed,  by  more 
than  one,  to  hasten  out  of  the  dining-room  with  the 


Henry  Clavering  199 

Post  in  his  hand,  and  go  immediately  to  his  room  with 
out  touching  his  dinner." 

il  Humph  !  that  does  not  look " 

44  If  Mr.  Clavering  had  had  a  guilty  knowledge  of 
the  crime,  he  would  either  have  ordered  dinner  before 
opening  the  paper,  or,  having  ordered  it,  he  would  have 
eaten  it." 

"  Then  you  do  not  believe,  from  what  you  have 
learned,  that  Mr.  Clavering  is  the  guilty  party  ?  " 

Mr.  Gryce  shifted  uneasily,  glanced  at  the  papers 
protruding  from  my  coat  pocket  and  exclaimed:  "  I  am 
ready  to  be  convinced  by  you  that  he  is." 

That  sentence  recalled  me  to  the  business  in  hand. 
Without  appearing  to  notice  his  look,  I  recurred  to  my 
questions. 

"  How  came  you  to  know  that  Mr.  Clavering  was  in 
this  city  last  summer  ?  Did  j^ou  learn  that,  too,  at  the 
Hoffman  House?" 

"  No  ;  I  ascertained  that  in  quite  another  way.  In 
short,  I  have  had  a  communication  from  London  in 
regard  to  the  matter. 

"  From  London  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  've  a  friend  there  in  my  own  line  of  bust- 
ness,  who  sometimes  assists  me  with  a  bit  of  informa 
tion,  when  requested." 

4  *  But  how  ?  You  have  not  had  time  to  write  to 
London,  and  receive  an  answer  since  the  murder.'' 

'•'  It  is  not  necessary  to  write.  It  is  enough  for  me  to 
telegraph  him  the  name  of  a  person,  for  him  to  under 
stand  that  I  want  to  know  everything  he  can  gather  in 
a  reasonable  length  of  time  about  that  person." 

"  And  you  sent  the  name  of  Mr.  Clavering  to  him  ?  " 

'  Yes,  in  cipher. ' ' 

"  And  have  received  a  reply  ?  " 


200          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  This  morning." 

I  looked  towards  his  desk. 

"It  is  not  there,"  lie  said  ;  "if  you  will  be  kind 
enough  to  feel  in  my  breast  pocket  you  will  find  a 
letter " 

It  was  in  my  hand  before  he  finished  his  sentence. 
'*  Excuse  my  eagerness,"  I  said.  "  This  kind  of  busi 
ness  is  new  to  me,  you  know." 

He  smiled  indulgently  at  a  very  old  and  faded  picture 
hanging  on  the  wall  before  him.  "  Eagerness  is  not  a 
fault ;  only  the  betrayal  of  it.  But  read  out  what  you 
have  there.  I,et  us  hear  what  my  friend  Brown  has  to 
tell  us  of  Mr.  Henry  Ritchie  Clavering,  of  Portland 
Place,  lyondon." 

I  took  the  paper  to  the  light  and  read  as  follows  : 

"Henry  Ritchie  Clavering,  Gentleman,  aged  43.  Born  in 

,  Hertfordshire,  England.  His  fattier  was  Chas.  Clavering, 

for  short  time  in  the  army.  Mother  was  Helen  Ritchie,  of 
Dumfriesshire,  Scotland  ;  she  is  still  living.  Home  with  H.  R. 
C.,  in  Portland  Place,  London.  H.  R.  C.  is  a  bachelor,  6  ft. 
high,  squarely  built,  weight  about  12  stone.  Dark  complexion, 
regular  features.  Eyes  dark  brown  ;  nose  straight.  Called  a 
handsome  man  ;  walks  erect  and  rapidly.  In  society  is  consid 
ered  a  good  fellow ;  rather  a  favorite,  especially  with  ladies. 
Is  liberal,  not  extravagant ;  reported  to  be  worth  about  ^5000 
per  year,  and  appearances  give  color  to  this  statement.  Prop- 
erty  consists  of  a  small  estate  in  Hertfordshire,  and  some  funds, 
amount  not  known.  Since  writing  this  much,  a  correspondent 
sends  the  following  in  regard  to  his  history.  In  '46  went  from 
uncle's  house  to  Eton.  From  Eton  went  to  Oxford,  graduating 
in  '56.  Scholarship  good.  In  1855  his  uncle  died,  and  his  father 
succeeded  to  the  estates.  Father  died  in  '57  by  a  fall  from  his 
horse  or  a  similar  accident.  Within  a  very  short  time  H.  R.  C. 
took  his  mother  to  London,  to  the  residence  named,  where  they 
have  lived  to  the  present  time. 

"Travelled  considerably  in  1860;  part  of  the  time  was  with 


Henry  Clavering  201 


.  1  of  Munich  ;  also  in  party  of  Vandervorts  from  New 

York  ;  went  as  far  east  as  Cairo.  Went  to  America  in  1875 
alone,  but  at  end  of  three  months  returned  on  account  of 
mother's  illness.  Nothing  is  known  of  his  movements  while 
in  America. 

"  From  servants  learn  that  he  was  always  a  favorite  from  a 
boy.  More  recently  has  become  somewhat  taciturn.  Toward 
last  of  his  stay  watched  the  post  carefully,  especially  foreign 
ones.  Posted  scarcely  anything  but  newspapers.  Has  written 
to  Munich.  Have  seen,  from  waste-paper  basket,  torn  envelope 
directed  to  Amy  Belden,  no  address.  American  correspondents 
mostly  in  Boston  ;  two  in  New  York.  Names  not  known,  but 
supposed  to  be  bankers.  Brought  home  considerable  luggage, 
and  fitted  up  part  of  house,  as  for  a  lady.  This  was  closed  soon 
afterwards.  Left  for  America  two  months  since.  Has  been,  1 
understand,  travelling  in  the  south.  Has  telegraphed  twice  to 
Portland  Place.  His  friends  hear  from  him  but  rarely.  Letters 
rec'd  recently,  posted  in  New  York.  One  by  last  steamer  posted 
in  p ,  N.  Y. 

"  Business  here  conducted  by .  In  the  country, of 

—  has  charge  of  the  property. 

"BROWN." 

The  document  fell  from  my  hands. 

F ,  N.  Y.,  was  a  small  town  near  R . 

"  Your  friend  is  a  trump,"  I  declared.  "  He  tells 
me  just  what  I  wanted  most  to  know."  And,  taking 
out  my  book,  I  made  memoranda  of  the  facts  which 
had  most  forcibly  struck  me  during  my  perusal  of  the 
communication  before  me.  ' '  With  the  aid  of  what  he 
tells  me,  I  shall  ferret  out  the  mystery  of  Henry  Clav 
ering  in  a  week  ;  see  if  I  do  not." 

"And  how  soon,"  inquired  Mr.  Gryce,  "may  I 
expect  to  be  allowed  to  take  a  hand  in  the  game  ?  " 

' '  As  soon  as  I  am  reasonably  assured  I  am  upon  the 
right  tack." 

"  And  what  will  it  take  to  assure  you  of  that  ?  " 


202  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Not  much  ;  a  certain  point  settled,  and- — -" 

1 '  Hold  on  ;  who  knows  but  what  I  can  do  that  for 
you  ?  "  And5  looking  towards  the  desk  which  stood  in 
the  corner,  Mr.  Gryce  asked  me  if  I  would  be  kind 
enough  to  open  the  top  drawer  and  bring  him  the  bits 
of  partly-burned  paper  I  would  find  there. 

Hastily  complying,  I  brought  three  or  four  strips  of 
ragged  paper,  and  laid  them  on  the  table  at  his  side. 

"  Another  result  of  Fobbs'  researches  under  the  coal 
on  the  first  day  of  the  inquest,"  Mr.  Gryce  abruptly 
explained.  "  You  thought  the  key  was  all  he  found. 
Well,  it  was  n't.  A  second  turning  over  of  the  coal 
brought  these  to  light,  and  very  interesting  they  are, 
too." 

I  immediately  bent  over  the  torn  and  discolored 
scraps  with  great  anxiety.  They  were  four  in  number, 
and  appeared  at  first  glance  to  be  the  mere  remnants 
of  a  sheet  of  common  writing-paper,  torn  lengthwise 
into  strips,  and  twisted  up  into  lighters  ;  but,  upon 
closer  inspection,  they  showed  traces  of  writing  upon 
one  side,  and,  what  was  more  important  still,  the  pres 
ence  of  one  or  more  drops  of  spattered  blood.  This 
latter  discovery  was  horrible  to  me,  and  so  overcame 
me  for  the  moment  that  I  put  the  scraps  down,  and, 
turning  towards  Mr.  Gryce,  inquired  : 
p  ' '  What  do  you  make  of  them  ?  " 

"  That  is  just  the  question  I  was  going  to  put  to 
you." 

Swallowing  my  disgust,  I  took  them  up  again. 
"  They  look  like  the  remnants  of  some  old  letter," 
said  I. 

"  They  have  that  appearance,"  Mr.  Gryce  grimly 
assented. 

"  A  letter  which,  from  the  drop  of  blood  observable 


Henry  Clavering  203 

on  the  written  side,  must  have  been  lying  face  up  on 
Mr.  Leaven  worth's  table  at  the  time  of  the  murder — " 

"Just  so." 

"  And  from  the  uniformity  in  width  of  each  of  these 
pieces,  as  well  as  their  tendency  to  curl  up  when  left 
alone,  must  first  have  been  torn  into  even  strips,  and 
then  severally  rolled  up,  before  being  tossed  into  the 
grate  where  they  were  afterwards  found.'* 

"  That  is  all  good,"  said  Mr.  Gryce  ;  "  go  on." 

"  The  writing,  so  far  as  discernible,  is  that  of  a 
cultivated  gentleman.  It  is  not  that  of  Mr.  I/eaven- 
worth;  for  I  have  studied  his  chirography  too  much 
lately  not  to  know  it  at  a  glance;  but  it  may  be — 
Hold  !  "  I  suddenly  exclaimed,  "  have  you  any  mucil 
age  handy  ?  I  think,  if  I  could  paste  these  strips 
down  upon  a  piece  of  paper,  so  that  they  would  remain 
flat,  I  should  be  able  to  tell  you  what  I  think  of  them 
much  more  easily." 

"  There  is  mucilage  on  the  desk,"  signified  Mr. 
Gryce. 

Procuring  it,  I  proceeded  to  consult  the  scraps  once 
more  for  evidence  to  guide  me  in  their  arrangement. 
These  were  more  marked  than  I  expected  ;  the  longer 
and  best  preserved  strip,  with  its  "Mr.  Hor"  at  the  top, 
showing  itself  at  first  blush  to  be  the  left-hand  margin 
of  the  letter,  while  the  machine-cut  edge  of  the  next  in 
length  presented  tokens  fully  as  conclusive  of  its  being 
the  right-hand  margin  of  the  same.  Selecting  these, 
then,  I  pasted  them  down  on  a  piece  of  paper  at  just 
the  distance  they  would  occupy  if  the  sheet  from  which 
they  were  torn  was  of  the  ordinary  commercial  note 
size.  Immediately  it  became  apparent  :  first,  that  it 
would  take  two  other  strips  of  the  same  width  to  fill  up 
the  space  left  between  them  ;  and  secondly,  that  the 


204          The  Leavenworth  Case 

writing  did  not  terminate  at  the  foot  of  the  sheet,  but 
was  carried  on  to  another  page. 

Taking  up  the  third  strip,  I  looked  at  its  edge ;  it 
was  machine-cut  at  the  top,  and  showed  by  the  arrange 
ment  of  its  words  that  it  was  the  margin  strip  of  a 
second  leaf.  Pasting  that  down  by  itself,  I  scrutinized 
the  fourth,  and  finding  it  also  machine-cut  at  the  top 
but  not  on  the  side,  endeavored  to  fit  it  to  the  piece 
already  pasted  down,  but  the  words  would  not  match. 
Moving  it  along  to  the  position  it  would  hold  if  it  were 
the  third  strip,  I  fastened  it  down  ;  the  whole  present 
ing,  when  completed,  the  appearance  seen  on  the  oppo 
site  page. 

"  Well !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Gryce,  "  that 's  business." 
Then,  as  I  held  it  up  before  his  eyes:  "  But  don't  show 
it  to  me.  Study  it  yourself,  and  tell  me  what  you  think 
of  it." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  this  much  is  certain:  that  it  is  a 
letter  directed  to  Mr.  I^eavenworth  from  some  House, 
and  dated  —  let 's  see  ;  that  is  an  h,  is  n't  it  ?  "  And 
I  pointed  to  the  one  letter  just  discernible  on  the  line 
under  the  word  House. 

"  I  should  think  so  ;  but  don't  ask  me." 

"  It  must  be  an  k.  The  year  is  1875,  and  this  is  not 
the  termination  of  either  January  or  February.  Dated, 
then,  March  ist,  1876,  and  signed " 

Mr.  Gryce  rolled  his  eyes  in  anticipatory  ecstasy 
towards  the  ceiling. 

"  By  Henry  Clavering,"  I  announced  without  hesita 
tion. 

Mr.  Gryce' s  eyes  returned  to  his  swathed  finger- 
ends.  "  Humph  !  how  do  you  know  that  ?  " 

"  Wait  a  moment,  and  I  will  show  you  " ;  and,  taking 
out  of  my  pocket  the  card  which  Mr.  Clavering  had 


Henry  Clavering  205 

handed  me  as  an  introduction  at  our  late  interview,  I 
laid  it  underneath  the  last  line  of  writing  on  the  second 
page.  One  glance  was  sufficient.  Henry  Ritchie 
Clavering  on  the  card  ;  H chie — in  the  same  hand 
writing  on  the  letter. 

"  Clavering  it  is,"  said  he,  "  without  a  doubt"  But 
I  saw  he  was  not  surprised. 

"  And  now,"  I  continued,  "  for  its  general  tenor  and 
meaning  "  And,  commencing  at  the  beginning,  I  read 
aloud  the  words  as  they  came,  with  pauses  at  the 
breaks,  something  as  follows:  "  Mr.  Hor — Dear — a 
niece  whom  yo — one  too  who  see — the  love  and  trus — 

any  other  man  ca — autiful,  so  char s  she  in  face 

fo conversation,  ery  rose  has  its — —rose  is  no  ex 
ception ely  as  she  is,  char tender  as  she  is, 

s pable  of  tramplin one  who  trusted 

heart . him  to he  owes 

a honor ance. 

1 '  If 1  believe her  to cruel face, 

what  is ble  serv yours 

"H tchie" 

"  It  reads  like  a  complaint  against  one  of  Mr.  Leav- 
enworth's  nieces,"  I  said,  and  started  at  my  own 
words. 

"What  is  it?"  cried  Mr.  Gryce  ;  "what  is  the 
matter?" 

"  Why,"  said  I,  "  the  fact  is  I  have  heard  this 
very  letter  spoken  of.  It  is  a  complaint  against  one  of 
Mr.  Leaven  worth's  nieces,  and  was  written  by  Mr. 
Clavering."  And  I  told  him  of  Mr.  Harwell's  com 
munication  in  regard  to  the  matter. 

"Ah!  then  Mr.  Harwell  has  been  talking,  has  he  ? 
I  thought  he  had  forsworn  gossip." 

"  Mr.  Harwell  and  I  have  seen  each  ether  almost 


2o6          The  Leavenworth  Case 

daily  for  the  last  two  weeks,"  I  replied.  "  It  would 
be  strange  if  he  had  nothing  to  tell  me." 

"  And  he  says  he  has  read  a  letter  written  *o  Mr, 
Leavenworth  by  Mr.  Clavering  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  the  particular  words  of  which  he  has  now 
forgotten." 

"  These  few  here  may  assist  him  in  recalling  the 
rest," 

"  I  would  rather  not  admit  him  to  a  knowledge  of 
the  existence  of  this  piece  of  evidence.  I  don't  believe 
in  letting  any  one  into  our  confidence  whom  we  can 
conscientiously  keep  out." 

"  I  see  you  don't,"  dryly  responded  Mr.  Gryce. 

Not  appearing  to  notice  the  fling  conveyed  by  these 
words,  I  took  up  the  letter  once  more,  and  began  point 
ing  out  such  half-formed  words  in  it  as  I  thought  we 
might  venture  to  complete,  as  the  Hor — ,  yo — ,  see — 

utiful ,  har- ,  for ,  tramplin- ,  pable , 

serv . 

This  done,  I  next  proposed  the  introduction  of  such 
others  as  seemed  necessary  to  the  sense,  as  Leavenworth 
after  Horatio  ;  Sir  after  Dear  ;  have  with  a  possible  you 
before  a  niece ;  thorn  after  its  in  the  phrase  rose  has  its  ; 
on  after  trampling ;  whom  after  to ;  debt  after  a ;  you 
after  If;  me  ask  after  believe  ;  beautiful  after  cruel. 

Between  the  columns  of  words  thus  furnished  I  inter 
posed  a  phrase  or  two,  here  and  there,  the  whole  read 
ing  upon  its  completion  as  follows: 


House. 


"  March  ist,  1876. 

"  Mr.  Horatio  Leavenworth  : 
"Dear  Sir: 

"  (You)  have  a  niece  whom  you  one  too  who 

seems  worthy  the  love  and  trust  of 


Henry  Clavering  207 

any  other  man  ca  so        beautiful,  so  charming 

is  she  in  face  form    and  conversation.  But 

every  rose  has  its  thorn  and  (this)  rose  is  no  exception 

lovely  as  she  is,  char    miiig  (as  she  is,)  tender  as  she  is, 
she        is        capable  of  trampling  on  one  who 

trusted  her 
heart  a 

him  to  whom  she  owes  a  debt  of  honor  a  ance 

"  If  you  don't  believe  me  ask  her  to  her  cruel 

beautiful  face  what  is  (her)  humble  servant    yours  : 

"  Henry  Ritchie  Clavering." 

"  I  think  that  will  do,"  said  Mr.  Gryce.  "  Its  general 
tenor  is  evident,  and  that  is  all  we  want  at  this  time. ' ' 

"  The  whole  tone  of  it  is  anything  but  complimentary 
to  the  lady  it  mentions,"  I  remarked.  "  He  must 
have  had,  or  imagined  he  had,  some  desperate  griev 
ance,  to  provoke  him  to  the  use  of  such  plain  language 
in  regard  to  one  he  can  still  characterize  as  tender, 
charming,  beautiful." 

4<  Grievances  are  apt  to  lie  back  of  mysterious 
crimes. ' ' 

"  I  think  I  know  what  this  one  was, ' '  I  said ;  * '  but  "— 
seeing  him  look  up  —  "must  decline  to  communi 
cate  my  suspicion  to  you  for  the  present.  My  theory 
stands  unshaken,  and  in  some  degree  confirmed  ;  and 
that  is  all  I  can  say." 

"  Then  this  letter  does  not  supply  the  link  you 
wanted?" 

"  No:  it  is  a  valuable  bit  of  evidence;  but  it  is  not 
the  link  I  am  in  search  of  just  now." 

"  Yet  it  must  be  an  important  clue,  or  Eleanore 
Leavenworth  would  not  have  been  to  such  pains,  first 
to  take  it  in  the  way  she  did  from  her  uncle's  table, 
and  secondly — — " 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


"  Wait  !  what  makes  you  think  this  is  the  paper  she 
took,  or  was  believed  to  have  taken,  from  Mr.  I^eaven- 
worth's  table  on  that  fatal  morning  ?  " 

"  Why,  the  fact  that  it  was  found  together  with  the 
key,  which  we  know  she  dropped  into  the  grate,  and 
that  there  are  drops  of  blood  on  it." 

I  shook  my  head. 

"  Why  do  you  shake  your  head  ?  "  asked  Mr,  Gryce. 

II  Because  I  am  not  satisfied  with  your  reason  for 
believing  this  to  be  the  paper  taken  by  her  from  Mr, 
I,eaven  worth's  table.'* 

"  And  why  ?  " 

"  Well,  first,  because  Fobbs  does  not  speak  of  seeing 

any  paper  in  her  hand,  when  she  bent  over  the  fire  ; 

leaving  us  to  conclude  that  these  pieces  were  in  the 

scuttle  of  coal  she  threw  upon  it  ;  which  surely  you 

must  acknowledge  to  be  a  strange  place  for  her  to  have 

put  a  paper  she  took  such  pains  to  gain  possession  of  ; 

and,  secondly,  for  the  reason  that  these  scraps  were 

twisted  as  if  they  had  been  used  for  curl  papers,  or  some- 

!  thing  of  that  kind  ;  a  fact  hard  to  explain  by  your 

I  hypothesis.'* 

"—  The  detective's  eye  stole  in  the  direction  of  my  neck 
tie,  which  was  as  near  as  he  ever  came  to  a  face.  "  You 
are  a  bright  one,"  said  he  ;  "a  very  bright  one.  I  quite 
admire  you,  Mr.  Raymond." 

A  little  surprised,  and  not  altogether  pleased  with 
this  unexpected  compliment,  I  regarded  him  doubtfully 
for  a  moment  and  then  asked  : 

"  What  is  your  opinion  upon  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Oh,  you  know  I  have  no  opinion.  I  gave  up 
everything  of  that  kind  when  I  put  the  affair  into  your 
hands." 

«  still  -  -'» 


Henry  Clavering  209 

"  That  the  letter  of  which  these  scraps  are  the  rem 
nant  was  on  Mr.  I/eavenworth'  s  table  at  the  time  of  the 
murder  is  believed.  That  upon  the  body  being  re 
moved,  a  paper  was  taken  from  the  table  by  Miss  Elea- 
nore  Leavenworth,  is  also  believed.  That,  when  she 
found  her  action  had  been  noticed,  and  attention  called 
to  this  paper  and  the  key,  she  resorted  to  subterfuge  in 
order  to  escape  the  vigilance  of  the  watch  that  had  been 
set  over  her,  and,  partially  succeeding  in  her  endeavor, 
flung  the  key  into  the  fire  from  which  these  same  scraps 
were  afterwards  recovered,  is  also  known.  The  con 
clusion  I  leave  to  your  judgment." 

"  Very  well,  then,"  said  I,  rising  ;  "  we  will  let  con 
clusions  go  for  the  present.  My  mind  must  be  satisfied 
in  regard  to  the  truth  or  falsity  of  a  certain  theory  of 
mine,  for  my  judgment  to  be  worth  much  on  this  or 
any  other  matter  connected  with  the  affair." 

And,  only  waiting  to  get  the  address  of  his  subordi 
nate  Q,  in  case  I  should  need  assistance  in  my  investi 
gations,  I  left  Mr.  Gryce,  and  proceeded  immediately 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Veeley. 


XXIII 

THE  STORY  OF  A  CHARMING  WOMAN 

u  Fe,  fi,  fo,  fum, 
I  smell  the  blood  of  an  Englishman." 

Old  Song. 

**  I  hold  you  as  a  thing  enskied  and  sainted." 

Measure  for  Measure. 

have  never  heard,  then,  the  particulars  of 
Mr.  L,eavenworth's  marriage  ?  " 

It  was  my  partner  who  spoke.  I  had  been  asking 
him  to  explain  to  me  Mr.  I,eavenworth's  well-known 
antipathy  to  the  English  race. 

"  No." 

"  If  you  had,  you  would  not  need  to  come  to  me  for 
this  explanation.  But  it  is  not  strange  you  are  ignor 
ant  of  the  matter.  I  doubt  if  there  are  half  a  dozen 
persons  in  existence  who  could  tell  you  where  Horatio 
Leavenworth  found  the  lovely  woman  who  afterwards 
became  his  wife,  much  less  give  you  any  details  of  the 
circumstances  which  led  to  his  marriage." 

"  I  am  very  fortunate,  then,  in  being  in  the  confi 
dence  of  one  who  can.  What  were  those  circumstances, 
Mr.  Veeley?" 

"  It  will  aid  you  but  little  to  hear.  Horatio  Leaven- 
worth,  when  a  young  man,  was  very  ambitious;  so  much 
so,  that  at  one  time  he  aspired  to  marr};  a  wealthy  lady 
of  Providence.  But,  chancing  to  go  to  England,  he 

210 


Henry  Clavering  211 

there  met  a  young  woman  whose  grace  and  charm  had 
such  an  effect  upon  him  that  he  relinquished  all 
thought  of  the  Providence  lady,  though  it  was  some 
time  before  he  could  face  the  prospect  of  marrying  the 
one  who  had  so  greatly  interested  him ;  as  she  was  not 
only  in  humble  circumstances,  but  was  encumbered 
with  a  child  concerning  whose  parentage  the  neighbors 
professed  ignorance,  and  she  had  nothing  to  say.  But, 
as  is  very  apt  to  be  the  case  in  an  affair  like  this,  love 
and  admiration  soon  got  the  better  of  worldly  wisdom. 
Taking  his  future  in  his  hands,  he  offered  himself  as 
her  husband,  when  she  immediately  proved  herself 
worthy  of  his  regard  by  entering  at  once  into  those  ex 
planations  he  was  too  much  of  a  gentleman  to  demand. 
The  storjr  she  told  was  pitiful.  She  proved  to  be  an 
American  by  birth,  her  father  having  been  a  well-known 
merchant  of  Chicago.  While  he  lived,  her  home  was 
one  of  luxury,  but  just  as  she  was  emerging  into  wom 
anhood  he  died.  It  was  at  his  funeral  she  met  the  man 
destined  to  be  her  ruin.  How  he  came  there  she  never 
knew  ;  he  was  not  a  friend  of  her  father's.  It  is 
enough  he  was  there,  and  saw  her,  and  that  in  three 
weeks  —  don't  shudder,  she  was  such  a  child  —  they 
were  married.  In  twenty-four  hours  she  knew  what 
that  word  meant  for  her  ;  it  meant  blows.  Everett,  I 
am  telling  no  fanciful  story.  In  twenty -four  hours 
after  that  girl  was  married,  her  husband,  coming 
drunk  into  the  house,  found  her  in  his  way,  and 
knocked  her  down.  It  was  but  the  beginning.  Her 
father's  estate,  on  being  settled  up,  proving  to  be 
less  than  expected,  he  carried  her  off  to  England,  where 
he  did  not  wait  to  be  drunk  in  order  to  maltreat  her. 
She  was  not  free  from  his  cruelty  night  or  day.  Before 
she  was  sixteen,  she  had  run  the  whole  gamut  of  human 


2i2          The  Leavenworth  Case 

suffering ;  and  that,  not  at  the  hands  of  a  coarse,  com 
mon  ruffian,  but  from  an  elegant,  handsome,  luxury- 
loving  gentleman,  v.hose  taste  in  dress  was  so  nice  he 
would  sooner  fling  a  garment  of  hers  into  the  fire  than 
see  her  go  into  company  clad  in  a  manner  he  did  not 
consider  becoming.  She  bore  it  till  her  child  was  born, 
then  she  fled.  Two  days  after  the  little  one  saw  the 
light,  she  rose  from  her  bed  and,  taking  her  baby  in 
her  arms,  ran  out  of  the  house.  The  few  jewels  she 
had  put  into  her  pocket  supported  her  till  she  could  set 
up  a  little  shop.  As  for  her  husband,  she  neither  saw 
him,  nor  heard  from  him,  from  the  day  she  left  him  till 
about  two  weeks  before  Horatio  Leavenworth  first  met 
her,  when  she  learned  from  the  papers  that  he  was 
dead.  She  was,  therefore,  free  ;  but  though  she  loved 
Horatio  Leavenworth  with  all  her  heart,  she  would  not 
marry  him.  She  felt  herself  forever  stained  and  soiled 
by  the  one  awful  year  of  abuse  and  contamination. 
Nor  could  he  persuade  her.  Not  till  the  death  of  her 
child,  a  month  or  so  after  his  proposal,  did  she  consent 
to  give  him  her  hand  and  what  remained  of  her  un 
happy  life.  He  brought  her  to  New  York,  surrounded 
her  with  luxury  and  every  tender  care,  but  the  arrow 
had  gone  too  deep  ;  two  years  from  the  day  her  child 
breathed  its  last,  she  too  died.  It  was  the  blow  of  his 
life  to  Horatio  Leavenworth  ;  he  was  never  the  same 
man  again.  Though  Mary  and  Eleanore  shortly  after 
entered  his  home,  he  never  recovered  his  old  light- 
hear  tedness.  Money  became  his  idol,  and  the  ambition 
to  make  and  leave  a  great  fortune  behind  him  modified 
all  his  views  of  life.  But  one  proof  remained  that  he 
never  forgot  the  wife  of  his  youth,  and  that  was,  he 
could  not  bear  to  have  the  word  '  Englishman  '  uttered 
in  his  hearing." 


Henry  Clavering  213 

Mr.  Veeley  paused,  and  I  rose  to  go.  "  Do  you 
remember  how  Mrs.  L,eavenworth  looked  ?  "  I  asked. 
"  Could  you  describe  her  to  me  ?  " 

He  seemed  a  little  astonished  at  my  request,  but  im 
mediately  replied  :  "  She  was  a  very  pale  woman  ;  not 
strictly  beautiful,  but  of  a  contour  and  expression  of 
great  charm.  Her  hair  was  brown,  her  eyes  gray — " 

"  And  very  wide  apart  ?  " 

He  nodded,  looking  still  more  astonished.  "  How 
came  you  to  know  ?  Have  you  seen  her  picture  ?  " 

I  did  not  answer  that  question. 

On  my  way  downstairs,  I  bethought  me  of  a  letter 
which  I  had  in  my  pocket  for  Mr.  Veeley 's  son  Fred, 
and,  knowing  of  no  surer  way  of  getting  it  to  him  that 
night  than  by  leaving  it  on  the  library  table,  I  stepped 
to  the  door  of  that  room,  which  in  this  house  was  at  the 
rear  of  the  parlors,  and  receiving  no  reply  to  my  knock, 
opened  it  and  looked  in. 

The  room  was  unlighted,  but  a  cheerful  fire  was 
burning  in  the  grate,  and  by  its  glow  I  espied  a 
lady  crouching  on  the  hearth,  whom  at  first  glance 
I  took  for  Mrs.  Veeley.  But,  upon  advancing  and 
addressing  her  by  that  name,  I  saw  my  mistake ; 
for  the  person  before  me  not  only  refrained  from 
replying,  but,  rising  at  the  sound  of  my  voice,  re 
vealed  a  form  of  such  noble  proportions  that  all  possi 
bility  of  its  being  that  of  the  dainty  little  wife  of  my 
partner  fled. 

"  I  see  I  have  made  a  mistake,"  said  I.  "I  beg 
your  pardon  ";  and  would  have  left  the  room,  but 
something  in  the  general  attitude  of  the  lady  before  me 
restrained  me,  and,  believing  it  to  be  Mary  I^eaven- 
worth,  I  inquired : 


214          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

"  Can  it  be  this  is  Miss  Leavenworth  ?  " 

The  noble  figure  appeared  to  droop,  the  gently  lifted 
head  to  fall,  and  for  a  moment  I  doubted  if  I  had  b^en 
correct  in  my  supposition.  Then  form  and  head  slowly 
erected  themselves,  a  soft  voice  spoke,  and  I  heard  a 
low  "  yes,"  and  hurriedly  advancing,  confronted  —  not 
Mary,  with  her  glancing,  feverish  gaze,  and  scarlet, 
trembling  lips  —  but  Eleanore,  the  woman  whose  faint 
est  look  had  moved  me  from  the  first,  the  woman  whose 
husband  I  believed  myself  to  be  even  then  pursuing  to 
his  doom  ! 

The  surprise  was  too  great  ;  I  could  neither  sustain 
nor  conceal  it.  Stumbling  slowly  back,  I  murmured 
something  about  having  believed  it  to  be  her  cousin  ; 
and  then,  conscious  only  of  the  one  wish  to  fly  a  pres 
ence  I  dared  not  encounter  in  my  present  mood,  turned, 
when  her  rich,  heart-full  voice  rose  once  more  and  I 
heard  : 

'  *  You  will  not  leave  me  without  a  word,  Mr.  Ray 
mond,  now  that  chance  has  thrown  us  together  ?  " 
Then,  as  I  came  slowly  forward  :  "  Were  you  so  very 
much  astonished  to  find  me  here  ?  " 

' '  I  do  not  know  —  I  did  not  expect — ' '  was  my  in 
coherent  reply.  '  *  I  had  heard  you  were  ill ;  that  you 
went  nowhere  ;  that  you  had  no  wish  to  see  your 
friends." 

"  I  have  been  ill,"  she  said;  "  but  I  am  better  now, 
and  have  come  to  spend  the  night  with  Mrs.  Veeley, 
because  I  could  not  endure  the  stare  of  the  four  walls 
of  my  room  any  longer. ' ' 

This  was  said  without  any  effort  at  plaintiveness,  but 
rather  as  if  she  thought  it  necessary  to  excuse  herself 
for  being  where  she  was. 

"  I  am  glad  you  did  so,"  said  I.    "  You  ought  to  be 


Henry  Clavering  215 

here  all  the  while.  That  dreary,  lonesome  boarding- 
house  is  no  place  for  you,  Miss  Leavenworth.  It  dis 
tresses  us  all  to  feel  that  you  are  exiling  yourself  at 
this  time." 

"  I  do  not  wish  anybody  to  be  distressed,"  she  re 
turned.  "  It  is  best  for  me  to  be  where  I  am.  Nor 
am  I  altogether  alone.  There  is  a  child  there  whose 
innocent  eyes  see  nothing  but  innocence  in  mine.  She 
will  keep  me  from  despair.  Do  not  let  my  friends  be 
anxious  ;  I  can  bear  it."  Then,  in  a  lower  tone  : 
"  There  is  but  one  thing  which  really  unnerves  me  ; 
and  that  is  my  ignorance  of  what  is  going  on  at  home. 
Sorrow  I  can  bear,  but  suspense  is  killing  me.  Will 
you  not  tell  me  something  of  Mary  and  home  ?  I  can 
not  ask  Mrs.  Veeley  ;  she  is  kind,  but  has  no  real 
knowledge  of  Mary  or  me,  nor  does  she  know  anything 
of  our  estrangement.  She  thinks  me  obstinate,  and 
blames  me  for  leaving  my  cousin  in  her  trouble.  But 
you  know  I  could  not  help  it.  You  know, — "  her 
voice  wavered  off  into  a  tremble,  and  she  did  not 
conclude. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  much,'*  I  hastened  to  reply  ; 
"  but  whatever  knowledge  is  at  my  command  is  cer 
tainly  yours.  Is  there  anything  in  particular  you  wish 
to  know?" 

"  Yes,  how  Mary  is;  whether  she  is  well,  and  —  and 
composed." 

"  Your  cousin's  health  is  good,"  I  returned  ;  "  but  I 
fear  I  cannot  say  she  is  composed.  She  is  greatly 
troubled  about  you." 

"  You  see  her  often,  then  ?  " 

"  I  am  assisting  Mr.  Harwell  in  preparing  your 
uncle's  book  for  the  press,  and  necessarily  am  there 
much  of  the  time." 


216  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  My  uncle's  book  !  "  The  words  came  in  a  tone  of 
low  horror. 

' '  Yes,  Miss  I,eavenworth.  It  has  been  thought  best 
to  bring  it  before  the  world,  and ' ' 

' '  And  Mary  has  set  you  at  the  task  ?  ' ' 

"Yes." 

It  seemed  as  if  she  could  not  escape  from  the  horror 
which  this  caused.  "  How  could  she  ?  Oh,  how  could 
she  !  " 

"  She  considers  herself  as  fulfilling  her  uncle's  wishes. 
He  was  very  anxious,  as  you  know,  to  have  the  book 
out  by  July. ' ' 

"  Do  not  speak  of  it!  "  she  broke  in,  "  I  cannot  bear 
it."  Then,  as  if  she  feared  she  had  hurt  my  feelings  by 
her  abruptness,  lowered  her  voice  and  said:  "  I  do  not, 
however,  know  of  any  one  I  should  be  better  pleased  to 
have  charged  with  the  task  than  yourself.  With  you 
it  will  be  a  work  of  respect  and  reverence  ;  but  a 
stranger  —  Oh,  I  could  not  have  endured  a  stranger 
touching  it." 

She  was  fast  falling  into  her  old  horror  ;  but  rousing 
herself,  murmured:  "  I  wanted  to  ask  you  something  ; 
ah,  I  know" — and  she  moved  so  as  to  face  me.  "  I 
wish  to  inquire  if  everything  is  as  before  in  the  house  ; 
the  servants  the  same  and  —  and  other  things  ?  " 

"  There  is  a  Mrs.  Darrell  there  ;  I  do  not  know  of 
any  other  change." 

"  Mary  does  not  talk  of  going  away  ?  " 

"  I  think  not." 

' '  But  she  has  visitors  ?  Some  one  besides  Mrs. 
Darrell  to  help  her  bear  her  loneliness  ?  " 

I  knew  what  was  coming,  and  strove  to  preserve  my 
composure. 

"  Yes,"  I  replkd  ;  "a  few." 


Henry  Clavering  217 

"  Would  you  mind  naming  them  ?  "  How  low  her 
tones  were,  but  how  distinct  ! 

"  Certainly  not.  Mrs.  Veeley,  Mrs.  Gilbert,  Miss 
Martin,  and  a — a " 

"  Go  on,"  she  whispered. 

"  A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Clavering." 

' '  You  speak  that  name  with  evident  embarrassment, ' ' 
she  said,  after  a  moment  of  intense  anxiety  on  my  part. 
"  May  I  inquire  why  ?  " 

Astounded,  I  raised  my  eyes  to  her  face.  It  was  very 
pale,  and  wore  the  old  look  of  self- repressed  calm  I  re 
membered  so  well.  I  immediately  dropped  my  gaze. 

'  *  Why  ?  because  there  are  some  circumstances  sur- 
rounditig  him  which  have  struck  me  as  peculiar." 

"  How  so?"  she  asked. 

"  He  appears  under  two  names.  To-day  it  is  Clav 
ering  ;  a  short  time  ago  it  was ' ' 

"Goon." 

"  Robbins." 

Her  dress  rustled  on  the  hearth  ;  there  was  a  sound 
of  desolation  in  it  ;  but  her  voice  when  she  spoke  was 
expressionless  as  that  of  an  automaton. 

"  How  many  times  has  this  person,  of  whose  name 
you  do  not  appear  to  be  certain,  been  to  see  Mary  ?  " 

"  Once." 

"  When  was  it  ?  " 

"Last  night." 

"  Did  he  stay  long  ?" 

"  About  twenty  minutes,  I  should  say." 

"  And  do  you  think  he  will  come  again  ?  " 

"  No." 

"Why?" 

"  He  has  left  the  country." 

A  short  silence  followed    this.      I  felt    her    eyes 


218  The  Leavenworth  Case 

searching  my  face,  but  doubt  whether,  if  I  had  known 
she  held  a  loaded  pistol,  I  could  have  looked  up  at  that 
moment. 

"  Mr.  Raymond, "  she  at  length  observed,  in  a 
changed  tone,  ' '  the  last  time  I  saw  you,  you  told  me 
you  were  going  to  make  some  endeavor  to  restore  me 
to  my  former  position  before  the  world.  I  did  not  wish 
you  to  do  so  then  ;  nor  do  I  wish  you  to  do  so  now.  Can 
you  not  make  me  comparatively  happy,  then,  by  assur 
ing  me  you  have  pbandoned  or  will  abandon  a  project 
so  hopeless  ?  " 

"  It  is  impossible,"  I  replied  with  emphasis.  "  I  can 
not  abandon  it.  Much  as  I  grieve  to  be  a  source  of 
sorrow  to  you,  it  is  best  you  should  know  that  I  can 
never  give  up  the  hope  of  righting  you  while  I  live." 

She  put  out  her  hand  in  a  sort  of  hopeless  appeal  in 
expressibly  touching  to  behold  in  the  fast  waning  fire 
light.  But  I  was  relentless. 

1 1  I  should  never  be  able  to  face  the  world  or  my  own 
conscience  if,  through  any  weakness  of  my  own,  I  should 
miss  the  blessed  privilege  of  setting  the  wrong  right, 
and  saving  a  noble  woman  from  unmerited  disgrace." 
And  then,  seeing  she  was  not  likely  to  reply  to  this, 
drew  a  step  nearer  and  said  :  "  Is  there  not  some  little 
kindness  I  can  show  you,  Miss  L,eavenworth  ?  Is 
there  no  message  you  would  like  taken,  or  act  it  would 
give  you  pleasure  to  see  performed  ?  " 

She  stopped  to  think.  "  No,"  said  she  ;  "I  have 
only  one  request  to  make,  and  that  you  refuse  to  grant." 

"  For  the  most  unselfish  of  reasons,"  I  urged. 

She  slowly  shook  her  head.  "  You  think  so  " ;  then, 
before  I  could  reply,  "  I  could  desire  one  little  favor 
shown  me,  however." 

"  What  is  that  ?" 


Henry  Clavering  219 

41  That  if  anything  should  transpire  ;  if  Hannah 
should  be  found,  or  —  or  my  presence  required  in  any 
way,  —  you  will  not  keep  me  in  ignorance.  That  you 
will  let  me  know  the  worst  when  it  comes,  without 
fail." 

"I  will." 

"  And  now,  good-night.  Mrs.  Veeley  is  coming  back, 
and  you  would  scarcely  wish  to  be  found  here  by  her. '  ' 

"No,"  said  I. 

And  yet  I  did  not  go,  but  stood  watching  the  fire 
light  flicker  on  her  black  dress  till  the  thought  of 
Clavering  and  the  duty  I  had  for  the  morrow  struck 
coldly  to  my  heart,  and  I  turned  away  towards  the 
door.  But  at  the  threshold  I  paused  again,  and  looked 
back.  Oh,  the  flickering,  dying  fire  flame  !  Oh,  the 
crowding,  clustering  shadows  !  Oh,  that  drooping 
figure  in  their  midst,  with  its  clasped  hands  and  its 
hidden  face !  I  see  it  all  again ;  I  see  it  as  in  a  dream ; 
then  darkness  falls,  and  in  the  glare  of  gas-lighted 
streets,  I  am  hastening  along,  solitary  and  sad,  to  my 
lonely  home. 


XXIV 

A  REPORT  FOLLOWED   BY  SMOKE 

"*  Oft  expectation  fails,  and  most  oft  there 
Where  most  it  promises ;  and  oft  it  hits 
Where  Hope  is  coldest,  and  Despair  most  sits." 

All's  Well  that  Ends  Wett, 

WHEN  I  told  Mr.  Gryce  I  only  waited  for  the  de 
termination  of  one  fact,  to  feel  justified  in 
throwing  the  case  unreservedly  into  his  hands,  I 
alluded  to  the  proving  or  disproving  of  the  supposition 
that  Henry  Clavering  had  been  a  guest  at  the  same 
watering-place  with  Eleanore  I^eavenworth  the  summer 
before. 

When,  therefore,  I  found  myself  the  next  morning 

with  the  Visitor  Book  of  the  Hotel  Union  at  R in 

my  hands,  it  was  only  by  the  strongest  effort  of  will  I 
could  restrain  my  impatience.  The  suspense,  however, 
was  short.  Almost  immediately  I  encountered  his 
name,  written  not  half  a  page  below  those  of  Mr. 
Leavenworth  and  his  nieces,  and,  whatever  may  have 
been  my  emotion  at  finding  my  suspicions  thus  con 
firmed,  I  recognized  the  fact  that  I  was  in  the  posses 
sion  of  a  clue  which  would  yet  lead  to  the  solving  of 
the  fearful  problem  which  had  been  imposed  upon  me. 

Hastening  to  the  telegraph  office,  I  sent  a  message  for 
the  man  promised  me  by  Mr.  Gryce,  and  receiving  for 
an  answer  that  he  could  not  be  with  me  before  three 
o'clock,  started  for  the  house  of  Mr.  Monell,  a  client 


Henry  Clavering  221 

of  ours,  living  in  R .     I  found  him  at  home  and, 

during  our  interview  of  two  hours,  suffered  the  ordeal 
of  appearing  at  ease  and  interested  in  what  he  had  to 
say,  while  my  heart  was  heavy  with  its  first  disappoint 
ment  and  my  brain  on  fire  with  the  excitement  of  the 
work  then  on  my  hands. 

I  arrived  at  the  depot  just  as  the  train  came  in. 

There  was  but  one  passenger  for  R ,  a  brisk  young 

man,  whose  whole  appearance  differed  so  from  the  de 
scription  which  had  been  given  me  of  Q  that  I  at  once 
made  up  my  mind  he  could  not  be  the  man  I  was  look 
ing  for,  and  was  turning  away  disappointed,  when  he 
approached,  and  handed  me  a  card  on  which  was  in 
scribed  the  single  character  "  ?  "  Even  then  I  could 
not  bring  myself  to  believe  that  the  slyest  and  most 
successful  agent  in  Mr.  Gryce's  employ  was  before  me, 
till,  catching  his  eye,  I  saw  such  a  keen,  enjoyable 
twinkle  sparkling  in  its  depths  that  all  doubt  fled,  and, 
returning  his  bow  with  a  show  of  satisfaction,  I 
remarked  : 

"  You  are  very  punctual.  I  like  that." 
He  gave  another  short,  quick  nod.  "  Glad,  sir,  to 
please  you.  Punctuality  is  too  cheap  a  virtue  not  to  be 
practised  by  a  man  on  the  lookout  for  a  rise.  But 
what  orders,  sir  ?  Down  train  due  in  ten  minutes  ;  no 
time  to  spare." 

"  Down  train  ?     What  have  we  to  do  with  that  ?  " 
"  I  thought  you  might  wish  to  take  it,  sir.      Mr, 
Brown  " —  winking  expressively  at  the  name,  "  always 
checks  his  carpet-bag  for  home  when  he  sees  me  com 
ing.     But  that  is  your  affair  ;  I  am  not  particular." 

"  I  wish  to  do  what  is  wisest  under  the  circum 
stances." 


222          The  Leavenworth  Case 

•'  Go  home,  then,  as  speedily  as  possible."  And  he 
gave  a  third  sharp  nod  exceedingly  business-like  and 
determined. 

**  If  I  leave  you,  it  is  with  the  understanding  that 
you  bring  your  information  first  to  ine;  that  you  are  in 
my  employ,  and  in  that  of  no  one  else  for  the  time  be 
ing  ;  and  that  mum  is  the  word  till  I  give  you  liberty  to 
speak." 

'  Yes,  sir.     When  I  work  for  Brown  &  Co.  I  do  not 
work  for  Smith  &  Jones.     That  you  can  count  on." 

"  Very  well  then,  here  are  your  instructions." 

He  looked  at  the  paper  I  handed  him  with  a  certain 
degree  of  care,  then  stepped  into  the  waiting-room  and 
threw  it  into  the  stove,  saying  in  a  low  tone  :  "  So 
much  in  case  I  should  meet  with  some  accident :  have 
an  apoplectic  fit,  or  anything  of  that  sort." 

"But " 

"  Oh,  don't  worry  ;  I  sha'n't  forget.  I  Ve  a  mem 
ory,  sir.  No  need  of  anybody  using  pen  and  paper 
with  me. ' ' 

And  laughing  in  the  short,  quick  way  one  would  ex 
pect  from  a  person  of  his  appearance  and  conversation, 
he  added  :  * *  You  will  probably  hear  from  me  in  a  day 
or  so,"  and  bowing,  took  his  brisk,  free  way  down  the 
street  just  as  the  train  came  rushing  in  from  the  West. 

My  instructions  to  Q  were  as  follows  : 

1 .  To  find  out  on  what  day,  and  in  whose  company, 
the  Misses  L,eaven worth  arrived  at  R the  year  be 
fore.     What  their  movements  had  been  while  there, 
and  in  whose  society  they  were  oftenest  to  be  seen.    Also 
the  date  of  their  departure,  and  such  facts  as  could  be 
gathered  in  regard  to  their  habits,  etc. 

2.  Ditto  in  respect  to  a  Mr.  Henry  Clavering,  fellow- 
guest  and  probable  friend  of  said  ladies. 


Henry  Clavering  223 

3.  Name  of  individual  fulfilling  the  following  require 
ments  :  Clergyman,  Methodist,  deceased  since  last  De 
cember  or  thereabouts,  who  in  July  of  Seventy-five  was 
located  in  some  town  not  over  twenty  miles  from  R— = — . 

4.  Also  name  and  present  whereabouts  of  a  man  at 
that  time  in  service  of  the  above. 

To  say  that  the  interval  of  time  necessary  to  a  propel 
inquiry  into  these  matters  was  passed  by  me  in  any 
reasonable  frame  of  mind,  would  be  to  give  myself 
credit  for  an  equanimity  of  temper  which  I  unfortunately 
do  not  possess.  Never  have  days  seemed  so  long  as  the 

two  which  interposed  between  my  return  from  R 

and  the  receipt  of  the  following  letter  : 

"SIR: 

"  i.  Individuals  mentioned  arrived  in  R July  3,    1875. 

Party  consisted  of  four ;  the  two  ladies,  their  uncle,  and  the 
girl  named  Hannah.  Uncle  remained  three  days,  and  then  left 
for  a  short  tour  through  Massachusetts.  Gone  two  weeks, 
during  which  ladies  were  seen  more  or  less  with  the  gentleman 
named  between  us,  but  not  to  an  extent  sufficient  to  excite 
gossip  or  occasion  remark,  when  said  gentleman  left  R 
abruptly,  two  days  after  uncle's  return.  Date  July  19.  As  to 
habits  of  ladies,  more  or  less  social.  They  were  always  to  be 

seen  at  picnics,  rides,  etc.,  and  in  the  ballroom.     M liked 

best.     B considered  grave,  and,  towards  the  last  of  her  stay, 

moody.  It  is  remembered  now  that  her  manner  was  always 
peculiar,  and  that  she  was  more  or  less  shunned  by  her  cousin. 
However,  in  the  opinion  of  one  girl  still  to  be  found  at  the 
hotel,  she  was  the  sweetest  lady  that  ever  breathed.  No  par 
ticular  reason  for  this  opinion.  Uncle,  ladies,  and  servants  left 
R for  New  York,  August  7,  1875. 

"2.  H.  C.  arrived  at  the  hotel  in  R— —  July  6,  1875,  in  com- 
pany  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vandervort,  friends  of  the  above. 
Left  July  19,  two  weeks  from  day  of  arrival.  Little  to  be  learned 
in  regard  to  him.  Remembered  as  the  handsome  gentleman 
who  was  in  the  party  with  the  L.  gifls,  and  that  is  all. 


224  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"3.  F ,  a  small  town,  some  sixteen  or  seventeen  miles 

from  R ,  had  for  its  Methodist  minister,  in  July  of  last  year, 

a  man  who  has  since  died,  Samuel  Stebbins  by  name.  Date  of 
decease,  Jan.  7  of  this  year. 

"4.  Name  of  man  in  employ  of  S.  S.  at  that  time  is  Timothy 

Cook.  He  has  been  absent,  but  returned  to  F two  days 

ago.  Can  be  seen  if  required." 

"  Ah,  ha!  "  I  cried  aloud  at  this  point,  in  my  sudden 
surprise  and  satisfaction  ;  "  now  we  have  something  to 
work  upon!  "  And  sitting  down  I  penned  the  follow 
ing  reply  : 

"  T.  C.  wanted  by  all  means.  Also  any  evidence  going  to 
prove  that  H.  C.  and  E.  L,.  were  married  at  the  house  of  Mr.  S. 
on  any  day  of  July  or  August  last." 

Next  morning  came  the  following  telegram  : 

"T.  C.  on  the  road.  Remembers  a  marriage.  Will  be  with 
you  by  2  P.M." 

At  three  o'clock  of  that  same  day,  I  stood  before  Mr. 
Gryce.  *  *  I  am  here  to  make  my  report, ' '  I  announced. 

The  flicker  of  a  smile  passed  over  his  face,  and  he 
gazed  for  the  first  time  at  his  bound-up  finger-ends  with 
a  softening  aspect  which  must  have  done  them  good. 
"  I  'm  ready,"  said  he. 

"  Mr.  Gryce,"  I  began,  "  do  you  remember  the  con 
clusion  we  came  to  at  our  first  interview  in  this  house  ? ' ' 

"  I  remember  the  one  you  came  to." 

"  Well,  well,"  I  acknowledged  a  little  peevishly, 
*'  the  one  I  came  to,  then.  It  was  this  :  that  if  we 
could  find  to  whom  Eleanore  Leavenworth  felt  she 
owed  her  best  duty  and  love,  we  should  discover  the 
man  who  murdered  her  uncle. ' ' 

"  And  do  you  imagine  you  have  done  this  ?  " 


Henry  Clavering  225 

"  I  do." 

His  eyes  stole  a  little  nearer  my  face.  "  Well  !  that 
is  good  ;  go  on." 

"  When  I  undertook  this  business  of  clearing  Elea- 
nore  Leavenworth  from  suspicion,"  I  resumed,  "  it  was 
with  the  premonition  that  this  person  would  prove  to 
be  her  lover  ;  but  I  had  no  idea  he  would  prove  to  be 
her  husband." 

Mr.  Gryce's  gaze  flashed  like  lightning  to  the  ceiling. 

"  What  !  "  he  ejaculated  with  a  frown. 

"  The  lover  of  Eleanore  Leavenworth  is  likewise  her 
husband,"  I  repeated.  "Mr.  Clavering  holds  no  lesser 
connection  to  her  than  that." 

"  How  have  you  found  that  out  ?  "  demanded  Mr. 
Gryce,  in  a  harsh  tone  that  argued  disappointment  or 
displeasure. 

' '  That  I  will  not  take  time  to  state.  The  question 
is  not  how  I  became  acquainted  with  a  certain  thing, 
but  is  what  I  assert  in  regard  to  it  true.  If  you  will 
cast  your  eye  over  this  summary  of  events  gleaned  by 
me  from  the  lives  of  these  two  persons,  I  think  you  will 
agree  with  me  that  it  is."  And  I  held  up  before  his  eyes 
the  following  : 

* '  During  the  two  weeks  commencing  July  6,  of  the 
year  1875,  and  ending  July  19,  of  the  same  year,  Henry 
R.  Clavering,  of  London,  and  Eleanore  Leavenworth,  of 
New  York,  were  guests  of  the  same  hotel.  Fact  proved 
by  Visitor  Book  of  the  Hotel  Union  at  R ,  New  York. 

"  They  were  not  only  guests  of  the  same  hotel,  but 
are  known  to  have  held  more  or  less  communication 
with  each  other.  Fact  proved  by  such  servants  now  em 
ployed  in  R as  were  in  the  hotel  at  that  time. 

<f  July    19.    Mr.    Clavering  left  R abruptly,   a 


226          The  Leavenworth  Case 

circumstance  that  would  not  be  considered  remarkable  if 
Mr.  Leavenworth,  whose  violent  antipatlry  to  English 
men  as  husbands  is  publicly  known,  had  not  just 
returned  from  a  journey. 

* '  July  3°-  Mr-  Clavering  was  seen  in  the  parlor  of 

Mr.  Stebbins,  the  Methodist  minister  at  F ,  a  town 

about  sixteen  miles  from  R ,  where  he  was  married 

to  a  lady  of  great  beauty.  Proved  by  Timothy  Cook,  a 
man  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Stebbins,  who  was  called  in  from 
the  garden  to  witness  the  ceremony  and  sign  a  paper  sup 
posed  to  be  a  certificate. 

' '  July  31 .  Mr.  Clavering  takes  steamer  for  Liverpool. 
Proved  by  newspapers  of  that  date. 

"  September.  Eleanore  Leavenworth  in  her  uncle's 
house  in  New  York,  conducting  herself  as  usual,  but 
pale  of  face  and  preoccupied  in  manner.  Proved  by 
servants  then  in  her  service.  Mr.  Clavering  in  London  ; 
watches  the  United  States  mails  with  eagerness,  but 
receives  no  letters.  Fits  up  room  elegantly,  as  for  a 
lady.  Proved  by  secret  communication  from  London. 

"  November.  Miss  Leavenworth  still  in  uncle's 
house.  No  publication  of  her  marriage  ever  made. 
Mr.  Clavering  in  London  ;  shows  signs  of  uneasiness  ; 
the  room  prepared  for  lady  closed.  Proved  as  above. 

"January  17,  1876.  Mr.  Clavering,  having  returned 
to  America,  engages  room  at  Hoffman  House,  New 
York. 

"  March  i  or  2.  Mr.  Leavenworth  receives  a  letter 
signed  by  Henry  Clavering,  in  which  he  complains  of 
having  been  ill-used  by  one  of  that  gentleman's  nieces. 
A  manifest  shade  falls  over  the  family  at  this  time. 

' '  March  4.  Mr.  Clavering  under  a  false  name  inquires 
at  the  door  of  Mr.  Lea ven worth's  house  for  Miss  Elea 
nore  Leavenworth.  Proved  by  Thomas" 


Henry  Clavering  227 

"  March  4th  ?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Gryce  at  this  point. 
"  That  was  the  night  of  the  murder." 

"  Yes  ;  the  Mr.  L,e  Roy  Robbins  said  to  have  called 
that  evening  was  none  other  than  Mr.  Clavering. ' ' 

"  March  19.  Miss  Mary  Leavenworth,  in  a  conversa 
tion  with  me,  acknowledges  that  there  is  a  secret  in  the 
family,  and  is  just  upon  the  point  of  revealing  its  nature, 
when  Mr.  Clavering  enters  the  house.  Upon  his  de 
parture  she  declares  her  unwillingness  ever  to  mention 
the  subject  again.'* 

Mr.  Gryce  slowly  waved  the  paper  aside.  "  And 
from  these  facts  you  draw  the  inference  that  Kleanore 
Leavenworth  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Clavering  ?  " 

"I  do." 

"  And  that,  being  his  wife " 

"  It  would  be  natural  for  her  to  conceal  anything  she 
knew  likely  to  criminate  him." 

"  Always  supposing  Clavering  himself  had  done 
anything  criminal  ! ' ' 

4 'Of  course." 

"  Which  latter  supposition  you  now  propose  to 
justify  !" 

"  Which  latter  supposition  it  is  left  for  us  to  justify." 

A  peculiar  gleam  shot  over  Mr.  Gryce's  somewhat 
abstracted  countenance.  "  Then  you  have  no  new 
evidence  against  Mr.  Clavering  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  the  fact  just  given,  of  his  standing 
in  the  relation  of  unacknowledged  husband  to  the  sus 
pected  party  was  something." 

"  No  positive  evidence  as  to  his  being  the  assassin  of 
Mr.  Leavenworth,  I  mean  ?  " 

I  was  obliged  to  admit  I  had  none  which  he  would 
consider  positive.  ' '  But  I  can  show  the  existence  of 


228  The  Leavenworth  Case 

motive  ;  and  I  can  likewise  show  it  was  not  only  pos 
sible,  but  probable,  he  was  in  the  house  at  the  time  of 
the  murder." 

"  Ah,  you  can  !  "  cried  Mr.  Gryce,  rousing  a  little 
from  his  abstraction. 

1  '  The  motive  was  the  usual  one  of  self-interest.  Mr. 
Leavenworth  stood  in  the  way  of  Eleanore's  acknow 
ledging  him  as  a  husband,  and  he  must  therefore  be  put 
out  of  the  way.'' 

"  Weak  !  " 

"  Motives  for  Jiurders  are  sometimes  weak." 

"  The  motive  for  this  was  not.  Too  much  calcula 
tion  was  shown  for  the  arm  to  have  been  nerved  by 
anything  short  of  the  most  deliberate  intention,  founded 
upon  the  deadliest  necessity  of  passion  or  avarice." 

"Avarice?" 

"  One  should  never  deliberate  upon  the  causes  which 
have  led  to  the  destruction  of  a  rich  man  without  tak 
ing  into  account  that  most  common  passion  of  the 
human  race." 

"  But  -  " 


us  hear  what  you  have  to  say  of  Mr.  Claver- 
ing's  presence  in  the  house  at  the  time  of  the  murder." 

I  related  what  Thomas  the  butler  had  told  me  in  re 
gard  to  Mr.  Clavering's  call  upon  Miss  Leavenworth 
that  night,  and  the  lack  of  proof  which  existed  as  to 
his  having  left  the  house  when  supposed  to  do  so. 

"  That  is  worth  remembering,"  said  Mr.  Gryce  at 
the  conclusion.  '  '  Valueless  as  direct  evidence,  it  might 
prove  of  great  value  as  corroborative."  Then,  in  a 
graver  tone,  he  went  on  to  say  :  "  Mr.  Raymond,  are 
you  aware  that  in  all  this  you  have  been  strengthening 
the  case  against  Kleanore  Leavenworth  instead  of 
weakening  it  ?  " 


Henry  Clavering  229 

I  could  only  ejaculate,  in  my  sudden  wonder  and 
dismay. 

"  You  have  shown  her  to  be  secret,  sly,  and  unprin 
cipled  ;  capable  of  wronging  those  to  whom  she  was 
most  bound,  her  uncle  and  her  husband.'" 

"  You  put  it  very  strongly,"  said  I,  conscious  of  a 
shocking  discrepancy  between  this  description  of  Elea- 
nore's  character  and  all  that  I  had  preconceived  in 
regard  to  it. 

' '  No  more  so  than  your  own  conclusions  from  this 
story  warrant  me  in  doing."  Then,  as  I  sat  silent, 
murmured  low,  and  as  if  to  himself :  "  If  the  case  was 
dark  against  her  before,  it  is  doubly  so  with  this  sup 
position  established  of  her  being  the  woman  secretly 
married  to  Mr.  Clavering." 

"  And  yet,"  I  protested,  unable  to  give  up  my  hope 
without  a  struggle  ;  "  you  do  not,  cannot,  believe  the^j 
noble-looking  Kleanore  guilty  of  this  horrible  crime  ?  "J 

"  No,"  he  slowly  said  ;  "  you  might  as  well  know 
right  here  what  I  think  about  that.  I  believe  Kleanore 
I^eavenworth  to  be  an  innocent  woman." 

"  You  do  ?  Then  what,"  I  cried,  swaying  between 
joy  at  this  admission  and  doubt  as  to  the  meaning  of 
his  former  expressions,  '  *  remains  to  be  done  ?  ' ' 

Mr.  Gryce  quietly  responded  :  "  Why,  nothing  but 
to  prove  your  supposition  a  false  one." 


XXV 

TIMOTHY   COOK 

"  Look  here  upon  this  picture  and  on  this." 

Hamlet. 

I  STARED  at  him  in  amazement. 
"  I  doubt  if  it  will  be  so  very  difficult,"  said  he. 
Then,  in  a  sudden  burst,  "  Where  is  the  man  Cook  ?  " 

"  He  is  below  with  Q." 

1 '  That  was  a  wise  move  ;  let  us  see  the  boys  ;  have 
them  up." 

Stepping  to  the  door  I  called  them. 

' '  I  expected,  of  course,  you  would  want  to  question 
them,"  said  I,  coming  back. 

In  another  moment  the  spruce  Q  and  the  shock- 
headed  Cook  entered  the  room. 

"  Ah,"  said  Mr.  Gryce,  directing  his  attention  at  the 
latter  in  his  own  whimsical,  non-committal  way  ;  "  this 
is  the  deceased  Mr.  Stebbins'  hired  man,  is  it  ?  Well, 
you  look  as  though  3^ou  could  tell  the  truth." 

"  I  usually  calculate  to  do  that  thing,  sir  ;  at  all 
events,  I  was  never  called  a  liar  as  I  can  remember. ' ' 

"  Of  course  not,  of  course  not,"  returned  the  affable 
detective.  Then,  without  any  further  introduction  : 
"  What  was  the  first  name  of  the  lady  you  saw  married 
in  your  master's  house  last  summer  ?  " 

"  Bless  me  if  I  know  !     I  don't  think  I  heard,  sir/' 

"  But  you  recollect  how  she  looked  ?  " 


Henry  Clavering  231 

"  As  well  as  if  she  was  my  own  mother.  No  disre 
spect  to  the  lady,  sir,  if  you  know  her,"  he  made  haste 
to  add,  glancing  hurriedly  at  me.  *  What  I  mean  is, 
she  was  so  handsome,  I  could  never  forget  the  look  of 
her  sweet  face  if  I  lived  a  hundred  years." 

' '  Can  you  describe  her  ?  ' ' 

"  I  don't  know,  sirs;  she  was  tall  and  grand-looking, 
had  the  brightest  eyes  and  the  whitest  hand,  and  smiled 
in  a  way  to  make  even  a  common  man  like  me  wish  he 
had  never  seen  her. ' ' 

!<  Would  you  know  her  in  a  crowd  ?  " 

* ''  I  would  know  her  any  w  here. ' ' 

"  Very  well  ;  now  tell  us  all  you  can  about  that 
marriage." 

*'  Well,  sirs,  it  was  something  like  this.  I  had  been 
in  Mr.  Stebbins'  employ  about  a  year,  when  one  morn 
ing  as  I  was  hoeing  in  the  garden  I  saw  a  gentleman 
walk  rapidly  up  the  road  to  our  gate  and  come  in.  I 
noticed  him  particularly,  because  he  was  so  fine-look 
ing  ;  unlike  anybody  in  F ,  and,  indeed,  unlike 

anybody  I  had  ever  seen,  for  that  matter  ;  but  I 
should  n't  have  thought  much  about  that  if  there 
had  n't  come  along,  not  five  minutes  after,  a  buggy 
with  two  ladies  in  it,  which  stopped  at  our  gate,  too. 
I  saw  they  wanted  to  get  out,  so  I  went  and  held  their 
horse  for  them,  and  they  got  down  and  went  into  the 
house." 

"  Did  you  see  their  faces  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  not  then.     They  had  veils  on." 

"  Very  well,  go  on." 

**  I  had  n't  been  to  work  long,  before  I  heard  some 
one  calling  my  name,  and  looking  up,  saw  Mr.  Stebbins 
standing  in  the  doorway  beckoning.  I  went  to  him, 
and  he  said,  *  I  want  you,  Tim  ;  wash  your  hands  and 


232  The  Leaven  worth  Case 

come  into  the  parlor.'  I  had  never  been  asked  to  do 
that  before,  and  it  struck  me  all  of  a  heap  ;  but  I  did 
what  he  asked,  and  was  so  taken  aback  at  the  looks  of 
the  lady  I  saw  standing  up  on  the  floor  with  the  hand 
some  gentleman,  that  I  stumbled  over  a  stool  and  made 
a  great  racket,  and  did  n't  know  much  where  I  was  or 
what  was  going  on,  till  I  heard  Mr.  Stebbins  say  *  man 
and  wife  ' ;  and  then  it  came  over  me  in  a  hot  kind  of 
way  that  it  was  a  marriage  I  was  seeing." 

Timothy  Cook  stopped  to  wipe  his  forehead,  as  if 
overcome  with  the  very  recollection,  and  Mr.  Gryce 
took  the  opportunity  to  remark  : 

"  You  say  there  were  two  ladies;  now  where  was  the 
other  one  at  this  time  ?  " 

"  She  was  there,  sir  ;  but  I  did  n't  mind  much  about 
her,  I  was  so  taken  up  with  the  handsome  one  and  the 
way  she  had  of  smiling  when  any  one  looked  at  her.  I 
never  saw  the  beat. ' ' 

I  felt  a  quick  thrill  go  through  me. 

"  Can  you  remember  the  color  of  her  hair  or  eyes  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  had  a  feeling  as  if  she  was  n't  dark,  and 
that  is  all  I  know." 

"  But  you  remember  her  face  ?  *' 

"Yes,  SIR!" 

Mr.  Gryce  here  whispered  me  to  procure  two  pictures 
which  I  would  find  in  a  certain  drawer  in  his  desk,  and 
set  them  up  in  different  parts  of  the  room  unbeknown 
to  the  man. 

"  You  have  before  said,"  pursued  Mr.  Gryce,  "  that 
you  have  no  remembrance  of  her  name.  Now,  how 
was  that  ?  Were  n't  you  called  upon  to  sign  the 
certificate  ?  " 

'*  Yes,  sir  ;  but  I  am  most  ashamed  to  say  it ;  I  was 
in  a  sort  of  maze,  and  did  n't  hear  much,  and  only; 


Henry  Clavering  233 

remember  it  was  a  Mr.  Clavering  she  was  married  to, 
and  that  some  one  called  some  one  else  Klner,  or  some 
thing  like  that.  I  wish  I  had  n't  been  so  stupid,  sir,  if 
it  would  have  done  you  any  good." 

"  Tell  us  about  the  signing  of  the  certificate,"  said 
Mr.  Grj'ce. 

"  Well,  sir,  there  is  n't  much  to  tell.  Mr.  Stebbins 
asked  me  to  put  my  name  down  in  a  certain  place  on  a 
piece  of  paper  he  pushed  towards  me,  and  I  put  it  down 
there  ;  that  is  all." 

"  Was  there  no  other  name  there  when  you  wrote 
yours  ? ' ' 

"  No,  sir.  Afterwards  Mr.  Stebbins  turned  towards 
the  other  lady,  who  now  came  forward,  and  asked  her 
if  she  would  n't  please  sign  it,  too;  and  she  said,  *  yes/ 
and  came  very  quickly  and  did  so." 

"  And  did  n't  you  see  her  face  then  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  her  back  was  to  me  when  she  threw  by 
her  veil,  and  I  only  saw  Mr.  Stebbins  staring  at  her  as 
she  stooped,  with  a  kind  of  wonder  on  his  face,  which 
made  me  think  she  might  have  been  something  worth 
looking  at  too  ;  but  I  did  n't  see  her  myself." 

"  Well,  what  happened  then  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir.  I  went  stumbling  out  of  the 
room,  and  did  n't  see  anything  more." 

"  Where  were  you  when  the  ladies  went  away  ?  " 
In  the  garden,  sir.     I  had  gone  back  to  my  work." 
You  saw  them,  then.     Was  the  gentleman  with 
mem?" 

"  No,  sir  ;  that  was  the  queer  part  of  it  all.  They 
went  back  as  they  came,  and  so  did  he  ;  and  in  a  few 
minutes  Mr.  Stebbins  came  out  where  I  was,  and  told 
me  I  was  to  say  nothing  about  what  I  had  seen,  for  if 
was  a  secret." 


234          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Were  you  the  only  one  in  the  house  who  knew 
anything  about  it?  Were  n't  there  any  women 
around  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  Miss  Stebbins  had  gone  to  the  sewing 
circle." 

I  had  by  this  time  some  faint  impression  of  what  Mr. 
Gryce's  suspicions  were,  and  in  arranging  the  pictures 
had  placed  one,  that  of  Eleanore,  on  the  mantel-piece, 
and  the  other,  which  was  an  uncommonly  fine  photo 
graph  of  Mary,  in  plain  view  on  the  desk.  But  Mr. 
Cook's  back  was  as  yet  towards  that  part  of  the  room, 
and,  taking  advantage  of  the  moment,  I  returned  and 
asked  him  if  that  was  all  he  had  to  tell  us  about  this 
matter. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Then,"  said  Mr.  Gryce,  with  a  glance  at  Q,  "  is  n't 
there  something  you  can  give  Mr.  Cook  in  payment  for 
his  story  ?  L,ook  around,  will  you  ?  ' ' 

Q  nodded,  and  moved  towards  a  cupboard  in  the  wall 
at  the  side  of  the  mantel-piece ;  Mr.  Cook  following  him 
with  his  eyes,  as  was  natural,  when,  with  a  sudden  start, 
he  crossed  the  room  and,  pausing  before  the  mantel 
piece,  looked  at  the  picture  of  Eleanore  which  I  had  put 
there,  gave  a  low  grunt  of  satisfaction  or  pleasure, looked 
at  it  again,  and  walked  away.  I  felt  my  heart  leap  into 
my  throat,  and,  moved  by  what  impulse  of  dread  or 
hope  I  cannot  say,  turned  my  back,  when  suddenly  I 
heard  him  give  vent  to  a  startled  exclamation,  followed 
by  the  words  :  "  Why  !  here  she  is  ;  this  is  her,  sirs," 
and  turning  around  saw  him  hurrying  towards  us  with 
Mary's  picture  in  his  hands. 

I  do  not  know  as  I  was  greatly  surprised.  I  was 
powerfully  excited,  as  well  as  conscious  of  a  certain 
whirl  of  thought,  and  an  unsettling  of  old  conclusions 


Henry  Clavering  235 

that  was  very  confusing  ;  but  surprised  ?  No.  Mr. 
Gryce' s  manner  had  too  well  prepared  me. 

"  This  the  lady  who  was  married  to  Mr.  Clavering, 
my  good  man  ?  I  guess  you  are  mistaken,"  cried  the 
detective,  in  a  very  incredulous  tone. 

"  Mistaken  ?  Did  n't  I  say  I  would  know  her  any 
where  ?  This  is  the  lady,  if  she  is  the  president's  wife 
herself."  And  Mr.  Cook  leaned  over  it  with  a  devour 
ing  look  that  was  not  without  its  element  of  homage. 

"  I  am  very  much  astonished,"  Mr.  Gryce  went  on, 
winking  at  me  in  a  slow,  diabolical  way  which  in  an 
other  mood  would  have  aroused  my  fiercest  anger. 
"  Now,  if  you  had  said  the  other  lady  was  the  one  "— 
pointing  to  the  picture  on  the  mantelpiece/  'I  shouldn't 
have  wondered." 

"  She  ?  I  never  saw  that  lady  before  ;  but  this  one 
— would  you  mind  telling  me  her  name,  sirs  ?  " 

"If  what  you  say  is  true,  her  name  is  Mrs.  Claveriiig." 

"  Clavering  ?    Yes,  that  was  his  name." 

"  And  a  very  lovely  lady,"  said  Mr.  Gryce.  "  Mor 
ris,  have  n't  you  found  anything  yet  ?  " 

Q,  for  answer,  brought  forward  glasses  and  a  bottle. 

But  Mr.  Cook  was  in  no  mood  for  liquor.  I  think 
he  was  struck  with  remorse ;  for,  looking  from  the  pic 
ture  to  Q,  and  from  Q  to  the  picture,  he  said  : 

"  If  I  have  done  this  lady  wrong  by  my  talk,  I  '11 
never  forgive  myself.  You  told  me  I  would  help  her 
to  get  her  rights  ;  if  you  have  deceived  me " 

"  Oh,  I  have  n't  deceived  you,"  broke  in  Q,  in  his 
short,  sharp  way.  "  Ask  that  gentleman  there  if  we  are 
not  all  interested  in  Mrs.  Clavering  getting  her  due." 

He  had  designated  me;  but  I  was  in  no  mood  to  re 
ply.  I  longed  to  have  the  man  dismissed,  that  I  might 
inquire  the  reason  of  the  great  complacency  which  I 


236          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

now  saw  overspreading  Mr.  Gryce's  frame,  to  his  very 
finger-ends. 

"  Mr.  Cook  need  n't  be  concerned,"  remarked  Mr. 
Gryce.  "  If  he  will  take  a  glass  of  warm  drink  to 
fortify  him  for  his  walk,  I  think  he  may  go  to  the  lodg 
ings  Mr.  Morris  has  provided  for  him  without  fear. 
Give  the  gent  a  glass,  and  let  him  mix  for  himself." 

But  it  was  full  ten  minutes  before  we  were  delivered 
of  the  man  and  his  vain  regrets.  Mary's  image  had 
called  up  every  latent  feeling  in  his  heart,  and  I  could 
but  wronder  over  a  loveliness  capable  of  swaying  the 
low  as  well  as  the  high.  But  at  last  he  yielded  to  the 
seductions  of  the  now  wily  Q,  and  departed. 

Left  alone  with  Mr.  Gryce,  I  must  have  allowed 
some  of  the  confused  emotions  which  filled  my  breast 
to  become  apparent  on  my  countenance;  for  after  a  few 
minutes  of  ominous  silence,  be  exclaimed  very  grimly, 
and  yet  with  a  latent  touch  of  that  complacency  I  had 
before  noticed  : 

"This  discovery  rather  upsets  you,  does  n't  it? 
Well,  it  don't  me/'  shutting  his  mouth  like  a  trap. 
"  I  expected  it." 

"  Your  conclusions  must  differ  very  materially  from 
mine,"  I  returned  ;  "  or  you  would  see  that  this  dis 
covery  alters  the  complexion  of  the  whole  affair.*1 

"  It  does  not  alter  the  truth." 

"  What  is  the  truth  ?" 

Mr.  Gryce's  very  legs  grew  thoughtful ;  his  voice 
sank  to  its  deepest  tone.  "  Do  you  very  much  want  to 
know?" 

*  *  Want  to  know  the  truth  >  Whr.t  else  are  we  after  ?  " 

"  Then,"  said  he,  "  to  my  notion,  the  complexion  of 
things  has  altered,  but  very  much  for  the  better.  As 
long  as  Kleanore  was  believed  to  be  the  wife,  her  action 


Henry  Clavering  237 

in  tills  matter  was  accounted  for;  but  the  tragedy  itself 
was  not.  Why  should  Kleanore  or  Eleanore's  husband 
wish  the  death  of  a  man  whose  bounty  they  believed 
would  end  with  his  life  ?  But  with  Mary,  the  heiress, 
proved  the  wife!  —  I  tell  you,  Mr.  Raymond,  it  all 
hangs  together  now.  You  must  never,  in  reckoning 
up  an  affair  cf  murder  like  this,  forget  who  it  is  that 
most  profits  by  the  deceased  man's  death." 

"But  Eleanore's  silence  ?  her  concealment  of  certain 
proofs  and  evidences  in  her  own  breast  —  how  will  you 
account  for  that  ?  I  can  imagine  a  woman  devoting 
herself  to  the  shielding  of  a  husband  from  the  conse 
quences  of  crime;  but  a  cousin's  husband,  never." 

Mr.  Gryce  put  his  feet  very  close  together,  and  softly 
grunted.  "  Then  you  still  think  Mr.  Clavering  the 
assassin  of  Mr.  Leavenworth  ?  " 

I  could  only  stare  at  him  in  my  sudden  doubt  and 
dread.  "  Still  think  ?  "  I  repeated. 

"  Mr.  Clavering  the  murderer  of  Mr.  Leavenworth  ?  " 

"  Why,  what  else  is  there  to  think  ?  You  don't — you 
can't — suspect  Eleanore  of  having  deliberately  under 
taken  to  help  her  cousin  out  of  a  difficulty  by  taking 
the  life  of  their  mutual  benefactor  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Gryce  ;  "  no,  I  do  not  think 
Eleanore  Leavenworth  had  any  hand  in  the  business." 

"  Then  who — "  I  began,  and  stopped,  lost  in  the 
dark  vista  that  was  opening  before  me. 

"  Who  ?  Why,  who  but  the  one  whose  past  deceit 
and  present  necessity  demanded  his  death  as  a  relief  ? 
Who  but  the  beautiful,  money-loving,  man-deceiving 
goddess " 

I  leaped  to  my  feet  in  my  sudden  horror  and  repug- 
aan«e.  "  Do  not  mention  the  name!  You  are  wrong; 
but  do  not  speak  the  name." 


238          The  Leavenworth  Case 

u  Excuse  me,"  said  he;  "but  it  will  have  to  be 
spoken  many  times,  and  we  may  as  well  begin  l^ere 
and  now  —  who  then  but  Mary  Leavenworth ;  or,  if  you 
like  it  better,  Mrs.  Henry  Clavering?  Are  you  so 
much  surprised?  It  has  been  my  thought  from  the 
beginning." 


XXVI 

MR.  GRYCE  EXPLAINS  HIMSELF 

"Sits  the  wind  in  that  corner?" 

Much  Ado  about  Nothing. 

I  DO  not  propose  to  enter  into  a  description  of  the 
mingled  feelings  aroused  in  me  by  this  announce 
ment.  As  a  drowning  man  is  said  to  live  over  in  one 
terrible  instant  the  events  of  a  lifetime,  so  each  word 
uttered  in  my  hearing  by  Mary,  from  her  first  intro 
duction  to  me  in  her  own  room,  on  the  morning  of  the 
inquest,  to  our  final  conversation  on  the  night  of  Mr. 
Clavering's  call,  swept  in  one  wild  phantasmagoria 
through  my  brain,  leaving  me  aghast  at  the  significa 
tion  which  her  whole  conduct  seemed  to  acquire  from 
the  lurid  light  which  now  fell  upon  it. 

"  I  perceive  that  I  have  pulled  down  an  avalanche 
of  doubts  about  your  ears,'*  exclaimed  my  companion 
from  the  height  of  his  calm  superiority.  "  You  never 
thought  of  this  possibility,  then,  yourself  ?  " 

1  *  Do  not  ask  me  what  I  have  thought.  I  only  know 
I  will  never  believe  your  suspicions  true.  That, 
however  much  Mary  may  have  been  benefited  by  her 
uncle's  death,  she  never  had  a  hand  in  it ;  actual  hand, 
I  mean." 

"  And  what  makes  you  so  sure  of  this  ?  " 

"  And  what  makes  you  so  sure  of  the  contrary  ?  It 
is  for  you  to  prove,  not  for  me  to  prove  her  innocence," 

239 


240          The  Leavenworth  Case 

*'  Ah,"  said  Mr.  Gryce,  in  his  slow,  sarcastic  wayt 
"  you  recollect  that  principle  of  law,  do  you  ?  If  I 
remember  rightly,  you  have  not  always  been  so  punc 
tilious  in  regarding  it,  or  wishing  to  have  it  regarded, 
when  the  question  was  whether  Mr.  Clavering  was  the 
assassin  or  not." 

"  But  he  is  a  man.  It  does  not  seem  so  dreadful  to 
accuse  a  man  of  a  crime.  But  a  woman  !  and  such  a 
woman  !  I  cannot  listen  to  it  ;  it  is  horrible.  Noth- 
ing  short  of  absolute  confession  on  her  part  will  ever 
make  me  believe  Mary  L,eavenworth,  or  any  other 
woman,  committed  this  deed.  It  was  too  cruel,  too 
deliberate,  too ' ' 

"  Read  the  criminal  records,"  broke  in  Mr.  Gryce. 

But  I  was  obstinate.  "  I  do  not  care  for  the  criminal 
records.  All  the  criminal  records  in  the  world  would 
never  make  me  believe  Eleanore  perpetrated  this  crime, 
nor  will  I  be  less  generous  towards  her  cousin.  Mary 
Leavenworth  is  a  faulty  woman,  but  not  a  guilty  one." 

"  You  are  more  lenient  in  your  judgment  of  her  than 
her  cousin  was,  it  appears." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,"  I  muttered,  feeling  a 
new  and  3^et  more  fearful  light  breaking  upon  me. 

* '  What !  have  you  forgotten,  in  the  hurry  of  these 
late  events,  the  sentence  of  accusation  which  we  over 
heard  uttered  between  these  ladies  on  the  morning  of 
the  inquest  ?  " 

"  No,  but " 

"  You  believed  it  to  have  been  spoken  by  Mary  to 
Eleanore  ?  " 

"  Of  course  ;  did  n't  you  ?  " 

Oh,  the  smile  which  crossed  Mr.  Gryce* s  face  I 
"  Scarcely.  I  left  that  baby-play  for  you.  I  thought 
one  was  enough  to  follow  on  that  tack." 


Henry  Clavering  241 

The  light,  the  light  that  was  breaking  upon  me  ! 
'*  And  do  you  mean  to  say  it  was  Eleanore  who  was 
speaking  at  that  time  ?  That  I  have  been  laboring  all 
these  weeks  under  a  terrible  mistake,  and  that  you 
could  have'righted  me  with  a  word,  and  did  not  ?  " 

"  Well,  as  to  that,  I  had  a  purpose  in  letting  you] 
follow  your  own  lead  for  a  while.     In  the  first  place,  I  » 
was  not  sure  myself  which  spoke  ;  though  I  had  but 
little  doubt  about  the  matter.     The  voices  are,  as  you 
must  have  noticed,  very  much  alike,   while  the  atti 
tudes  in  which  we  found  them  upon  entering  were  such 
as  to  be  explainable  equally  by  the  supposition  that 
Mary  was  in  the  act  of  launching  a  denunciation,  or  in 
that  of  repelling  one.    So  that,  while  I  did  not  hesitate 
myself  as  to  the  true  explanation  of  the  scene  before! 
me,  I  was  pleased  to  find  you  accept  a  contrary  one  ;  as] 
in  this  way  both  theories  had  a  chance  of  being  tested  ;/ 
as  was  right  in  a  case  of  .  o  much  mystery.     You  ac 
cordingly  took  up  the  affair  with  one  idea  for  your 
starting-point,  and  I  with  another.    You  saw  every  fact 
as  it  developed  through  the  medium  of  Mary's  belief  in 
Eleanore' s   guilt,   and  I  through  the  opposite.     And 
what  has  been  the  result  ?     With  you,  doubt,  contra 
diction,  constant  unsettlement,  and  unwarranted  resorts 
to  strange  sources  for  reconcilement  between  appear 
ances  and  ycur  own  convictions  ;  with  me,   growing 
assurance,  and  a  belief  which  each  and  every  develop 
ment  so  far  has  but  served  to  strengthen  and  make] 
more  probable." 

Again  that  wild  panorama  of  events,  looks,  and 
words  swept  before  me.  Mary's  reiterated  assertions 
of  her  cousin's  innocence,  Eleanore's  attitude  of  lofty 
silence  in  regard  to  certain  matters  which  might  be 
considered  by  her  as  pointing  towards  the  murderer. 


242          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Your  theory  must  be  the  correct  one/'  I  finally 
admitted  ;  "  it  was  undoubtedly  Kleanore  who  spoke. 
She  believes  in  Mary's  guilt,  and  I  have  been  blind, 
indeed,  not  to  have  seen  it  from  the  first." 

"  If  Kleanore  L,eavenworth  believes  in  her  cousin's 
criminality,  she  must  have  some  good  reasons  for 
doing  so." 

I  was  obliged  to  admit  that  too. 

"  She  did  not  conceal  in  her  bosom  that  telltale  key, 
—  found  who  knows  where  ?  —  and  destroy,  or  seek  to 
destroy,  it  and  the  letter  which  introduced  her  cousin  to 
the  public  as  the  unprincipled  destroyer  of  a  trusting 
man's  peace,  for  nothing." 

"No,  no." 

"  And  yet  you,  a  stranger,  a  young  man  who  have 
never  seen  Mary  Leavenworth  in  any  other  light  than 
that  in  which  her  coquettish  nature  sought  to  displajr 
itself,  presume  to  say  she  is  innocent,  in  the  face  of 
the  attitude  maintained  from  the  first  by  her  cousin  !  " 

"  But,"  said  I,  in  my  great  unwillingness  to  accept  his 
conclusions,  "  Eleanore  Leavenworth  is  but  mortal. 
She  may  have  been  mistaken  in  her  inferences.  She 
has  never  stated  what  her  suspicion  was  founded  upon; 
nor  can  we  know  what  basis  she  has  for  maintaining 
the  attitude  you  speak  of.  Clavering  is  as  likely  as 
Mary  to  be  the  assassin,  for  all  we  know,  and  possibly 
for  all  she  knows." 

1  You  seem  to  be  almost  superstitious  in  your  belief 
in  Clavering' s  guilt." 

I  recoiled.  Was  I  ?  Could  it  be  that  Mr.  Harwell's 
fanciful  conviction  in  regard  to  this  man  had  in  any 
way  influenced  me  to  the  detriment  of  my  better 
judgment  ? 

"  And  you  may  be  right,"  Mr.  Gryce  went  on.    "  I 


Henry  Clavering  243 

do  not  pretend  to  be  set  in  my  notions.  Future  inves 
tigation  may  succeed  in  fixing  something  upon  him; 
though  I  hardly  think  it  likely.  His  behavior  as  the 
secret  husband  of  a  woman  possessing  motives  for  the 
commission  of  a  crime  has  been  too  consistent  through 
out." 

' '  All  except  his  leaving  her. ' ' 

"  No  exception  at  all ;  for  he  has  n't  left  her." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that,  instead  of  leaving  the  country,  Mr. 
Clavering  has  only  made  pretence  of  doing  so.  That, 
in  place  of  dragging  himself  off  to  Europe  at  her  com 
mand,  he  has  only  changed  his  lodgings,  and  can  now 
be  found,  not  only  in  a  house  opposite  to  hers,  but  in 
the  window  of  that  house,  where  he  sits  day  after  day 
watching  who  goes  in  and  out  of  her  front  door." 

I  remembered  his  parting  injunction  to  me,  in  that 
memorable  interview  we  had  in  my  office,  and  saw 
myself  compelled  to  put  a  new  construction  upon  it. 

"  But  I  was  assured  at  the  Hoffman  House  that  he 
had  sailed  for  Europe,  and  myself  saw  the  man  who 
professes  to  have  driven  him  to  the  steamer." 

"Just  so." 

"  And  Mr.  Clavering  returned  to  the  city  after 
that?" 

"  In  another  carriage,  and  to  another  house." 

"  And  you  tell  me  that  man  is  all  right  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  only  say  there  is  n't  the  shadow  of  evidence 
against  him  as  the  person  who  shot  Mr.  Leaven  worth." 

Rising,  I  paced  the  f.oor,  and  for  a  few  minutes  silence 
fell  between  us.  But  the  clock,  striking,  recalled  me  to 
the  necessity  of  the  hour,  and,  turning,  I  asked  Mr. 
Gryce  what  he  proposed  to  do  now. 

' '  There  is  but  one  thing  I  can  do, ' '  said  he. 


244  The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  And  that  is?" 

"  To  go  upon  such  lights  as  I  have,  and  cause  the 
arrest  of  Miss  Leavenworth." 

I  had  by  this  time  schooled  myself  to  endurance,  and 
was  able  to  hear  this  without  uttering  an  exclamation. 
But  I  could  not  let  it  pass  without  making  one  effort  to 
combat  his  determination. 

"  But,"  said  I,  "  I  do  not  see  what  evidence  you 
have,  positive  enough  in  its  character,  to  warrant  ex 
treme  measures.  You  have  yourself  intimated  that  the 
existence  of  motive  is  not  enough,  even  though  taken 
with  the  fact  of  the  suspected  party  being  in  the  house 
at  the  time  of  the  murder  ;  and  what  more  have  you  to 
urge  against  Miss  Leavenworth  ?  ' ' 

' '  Pardon  me.  I  said  '  Miss  Leavenworth  ' ;  I  should 
have  said  '  Eleanore  Leavenworth.'  ' 

"  Eleanore  ?  What!  when  you  and  all  unite  in 
thinking  that  she  alone  of  all  these  parties  to  the  crime 
is  utterly  guiltless  of  wrong  ?  " 

1 '  And  yet  who  is  the  only  one  against  whom  positive 
testimony  of  any  kind  can  be  brought." 

I  could  but  acknowledge  that. 

s*    "Mr.  Raymond,"  he  remarked  very  gravely;  "  the 

I  public   is  becoming  clamorous  ;    something  must  be 

Mone  to  satisfy  it,  if  only  for  the  moment.     Kleanore 

has  laid  herself  open  to  the  suspicion  of  the  police,  and 

must  take  the  consequences  of  her  action.     I  am  sorry  ; 

she  is  a  noble  creature  ;  I  admire  her  ;  but  justice  is 

justice,  and  though  I  think  her  innocent,  I  shall  be 

forced  to  put  her  under  arrest  unless ' ' 

"  But  I  cannot  be  reconciled  to  it.  It  is  doing  an 
irretrievable  injury  to  one  whose  only  fault  is  an  undue 
and  mistaken  devotion  to  an  unworthy  cousin.  If 
Mary  is  the " 


Henry  Clavering  245 

"  Unless  something  occurs  between  now  and  to 
morrow  morning, ' '  Mr.  Gryce  went  on,  as  if  I  had  not 
spoken. 

"  To-morrow  morning  ?  " 

"Yes." 

I  tried  to  realize  it ;  tried  to  face  the  fact  that  all  my 
efforts  had  been  for  nothing,  and  failed. 

' '  Will  you  not  grant  me  one  more  day  ?  ' '  I  asked  in 
my  desperation. 

"  What  to  do?" 

Alas,  I  did  not  know.  "  To  confront  Mr.  Clavering, 
and  force  from  him  the  truth." 

"  To  make  a  mess  of  the  whole  affair!  "  he  growled. 
"  No,  sir ;  the  die  is  cast.  Kleanore  L,eavenworth 
knows  the  one  point  which  fixes  this  crime  upon  her 
cousin,  and  she  must  tell  us  that  point  or  suffer  the 
consequences  of  her  refusal." 

I  made  one  more  effort. 

' '  But  why  to-morrow  ?     Having  exhausted  so  much 
time  already  in  our  inquiries,  why  not  take  a  little 
more  ;    especially  as  the  trail  is  constantly  growing* 
warmer  ?     A  little  more  moling ' ' 

"  A  little  morefolderol  P^exclaimed  Mr.  Gryce,  los 
ing  his  temper.  "  No,  sir  ;  the  hour  for  moling  has 
passed  ;  something  decisive  has  got  to  be  done  now  ; 
though,  to  be  sure,  if  I  could  find  the  one  missing  link  I 
want " 

"  Missing  link  ?    What  is  that  ?  "  =**. 

"  The  immediate  motive  of  the  tragedy  ;  a  bit  of  I 
proof  that  Mr.  I/eavenworth  threatened  his  niece  with 
his  displeasure,  or  Mr.  Clavering  with  his  revenge, 
would  place  me  on  the  vantage-point  at  once  ;  no  ar 
resting  of  Eleanore  then  !  No,  my  lady  !  I  would 
walk  right  into  your  own  gilded  parlors,  and  when  you 


246  The  Leavenworth  Case 

asked  me  if  I  had  found  the  murderer  yet,  say  '  yes,9 
and  show  you  a  bit  of  paper  which  would  surprise  you  ! 
J  |But  missing  links  are  not  so  easily  found.  This  has 
(been  moled  for,  and  moled  for,  as  you  are  pleased  to 
L-  'pall  our  system  of  investigation,  and  totally  without 
Result.  Nothing  but  the  confession  of  some  one  of  these 
several  parties  to  the  crime  will  give  us  what  we  want, 
ll  tell  you  what  I  will  do,"  he  suddenly  cried. 
"  Miss  Leavenworth  has  desired  me  to  report  to  her ; 
she  is  very  anxious  for  the  detection  of  the  murderer, 
you  know,  and  offers  an  immense  reward.  Well,  I  will 
gratify  this  desire  of  hers.  The  suspicions  I  have,  to 
gether  with  my  reasons  for  them,  will  make  an  inter 
esting  disclosure.  I  should  not  greatly  wonder  if  they 
produced  an  equally  interesting  confession." 

I  could  only  j  ump  to  my  feet  in  my  horror. 

"  At  all  events,  I  propose  to  try  it.  Eleanore  is 
wo'-th  that  much  risk  any  way." 

"  It  will  do  no  good,"  said  I.  "  If  Mary  is  guilty, 
she  will  never  confess  it.  If  not " 

"  She  will  tell  us  who  is." 

"  Not  if  it  is  Clavering,  her  husband." 
'  Yes  ;  even  if  it  is  Clavering,  her  husband.  She  has 
not  the  devotion  of  Eleanore. ' ' 

That  I  could  but  acknowledge.  She  would  hide  no 
keys  for  the  sake  of  shielding  another  :  no,  if  Mary 
were  accused,  she  would  speak.  The  future  opening 
before  us  looked  sombre  enough.  And  yet  when,  in  a 
short  time  from  that,  I  found  myself  alone  in  a  busy 
street,  the  thought  that  Eleanore  was  free  rose  above 
all  others,  filling  and  moving  me  till  my  walk  home  in 
the  rain  that  day  has  become  a  marked  memory  of  my 
life.  It  was  only  with  nightfall  that  I  began  to  realize 
the  truly  critical  position  in  which  Mary  stood  if  Mr. 


Henry  Clavering  247 

Gryce's  theory  was  correct.  But,  once  seized  with  this 
thought,  nothing  could  drive  it  from  my  mind.  Shrink 
as  I  would,  it  was  ever  before  me,  haunting  me  with 
the  direst  forebodings.  Nor,  though  I  retired  early, 
could  I  succeed  in  getting  either  sleep  or  rest.  All 
night  I  tossed  on  my  pillow,  saying  over  to  myself  with 
dreary  iteration:  "  Something  must  happen,  something 
will  happen,  to  prevent  Mr.  Gryce  doing  this  dreadful 
thing."  Then  I  would  start  up  and  ask  what  could 
happen  ;  and  my  mind  would  run  over  various  contin 
gencies,  such  as, —  Mr.  Clavering  might  confess  ;  Han 
nah  might  come  back  ;  Mary  herself  wake  up  to  her 
position  and  speak  the  word  I  had  more  than  once  seen 
trembling  on  her  lips.  But  further  thought  showed  me 
how  unlikely  any  of  these  things  were  to  happen,  and 
it  was  with  a  brain  utterly  exhausted  that  I  fell  asleep 
in  the  early  dawn,  to  dream  I  saw  Mary  standing  above 
Mr.  Gryce  with  a  pistol  in  her  hand.  I  was  awakened 
from  this  pleasing  vision  by  a  heavy  knock  at  the  door. 
Hastily  rising,  I  asked  who  was  there.  The  answer 
came  in  the  shape  of  an  envelope  thrust  under  the  door. 
Raising  it,  I  found  it  to  be  a  note.  It  was  from  Mr. 
Gryce,  and  ran  thus  : 

"  Come  at  once  ;  Hannah  Chester  is  found.** 


"  Hannah  found  ?  " 

"  So  we  have  reason  to  think." 

"  When  ?  where  ?  by  whom  ?" 

"  Sit  down,  and  I  will  tell  you." 

Drawing  up  a  chair  in  a  flurry  of  hope  and  fear,  I 
sat  down  by  Mr.  Gryce' s  side. 

"  She  is  not  in  the  cupboard,"  that  person  dryly 
assured  me,  noting  without  doubt  how  my  eyes  went 


248  The  Leavenworth  Case 

travelling  about  the  room  in  my  anxiety  and  impa 
tience.  "  We  are  not  absolutely  sure  that  she  's  any 
where.  But  word  has  come  to  us  that  a  girl's  face 
believed  to  be  Hannah's  has  been  seen  at  the  upper 

window  of  a  certain  house  in  —  don't  start  —  R , 

where  a  year  ago  she  was  in  the  habit  of  visiting  while 
at  the  hotel  with  the  Misses  Leavenworth.  Now,  as  it 
has  already  been  determined  that  she  left  New  York 

the  night  of  the  murder,  by  the Railroad, 

though  for  what  point  we  have  been  unable  to  ascer 
tain,  we  consider  the  matter  worth  inquiring  into." 

"But " 

"If  she  is  there,"  resumed  Mr.  Gryce,  "she  is 
secreted ;  kept  very  close.  No  one  except  the  informant 
has  ever  seen  her,  nor  is  there  any  suspicion  among  the 
neighbors  of  her  being  in  town." 

"  Hannah  secreted  at  a  certain  house  in  R ? 

Whose  house?" 

Mr.  Gryce  honored  me  with  one  of  his  grimmest 
smiles.  "  The  name  of  the  lady  she  's  with  is  given  in 
the  communication  as  Belden  ;  Mrs.  Amy  Belden. ' ' 

"  Amy  Belden  !  the  name  found  written  on  a  torn 
envelope  by  Mr.  Clavering's  servant  girl  in  London  ?  " 

"Yes." 

I  made  no  attempt  to  conceal  my  satisfaction.  ' '  Then 
we  are  upon  the  verge  of  some  discovery  ;  Providence 
has  interfered,  and  Kleanore  will  be  saved !  But  when 
did  you  get  this  word  ?  ' ' 

"  Last  night,  or  rather  this  morning  ;  Q  brought 
it." 

"  It  was  a  message,  then,  to  Q  ?  " 

'  Yes,  the  result  of  his  molings  while  in  R ,  I 

suppose." 

"  Whom  was  it  signed  by  ?  " 


Henry  Clavering  249 

'  A  respectable  tinsmith  who  lives  next  door  to  Mrs. 
B." 

"  And  is  this  the  first  you  knew  of  an  Amy  Belden 
living  in  R ?  J> 

"Yes." 

"Widow  or  wife?" 

"  Don't  know  ;  don't  know  anything  about  her  but 
her  name." 

"  But  you  have  already  sent  Q  to  make  inquiries  ?  " 

"  No  ;  the  affair  is  a  little  too  serious  for  him  to 
manage  alone.  He  is  not  equal  to  great  occasions,  and 
might  fail  just  for  the  lack  of  a  keen  mind  to  direct 
him." 

"  In  short " 

"  I  wish  you  to  go.  Since  I  cannot  be  there  myself, 
I  know  of  no  one  else  sufficiently  up  in  the  affair  to 
conduct  it  to  a  successful  issue.  You  see,  it  is  not 
enough  to  find  and  identify  the  girl.  The  present  con 
dition  of  things  demands  that  the  arrest  of  so  import 
ant  a  witness  should  be  kept  secret.  Now,  for  a  man 
to  walk  into  a  strange  house  in  a  distant  village,  find 
a  girl  who  is  secreted  there,  frighten  her,  cajole  her, 
force  her,  as  the  case  may  be,  from  her  hiding-place  to 
a  detective's  office  in  New  York,  and  all  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  next-door  neighbor,  if  possible,  re 
quires  judgment,  brains,  genius.  Then  the  woman  who 
conceals  her  !  She  must  have  her  reasons  for  doing 
so;  and  they  must  be  known.  Altogether,  the  affair 
is  a  delicate  one.  Do  you  think  you  can  manage  it  ?  " 

"  I  should  at  least  like  to  try." 

Mr.  Gryce  settled  himself  on  the  sofa.  "  To  think 
what  pleasure  I  am  losing  on  your  account  !  "  he 
grumbled,  gazing  reproachfully  at  his  helpless  limbs, 
"  But  to  business.  How  soon  can  you  start  ?  " 


250          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  Immediately/' 

"  Good  !  a  train  leaves  the  depot  at  12.15.     Take 

that.    Once  in  R ,  it  will  be  for  you  to  decide  upon 

the  means  of  making  Mrs.  Belden's  acquaintance  with 
out  arousing  her  suspicions.  Q,  who  will  follow  you, 
will  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  render  you  any  assist 
ance  you  may  require.  Only  this  thing  is  to  be  under 
stood  :  as  he  will  doubtless  go  in  disguise,  you  are  not 
to  recognize  him,  much  less  interfere  with  him  and  his 
plans,  till  he  gives  you  leave  to  do  so,  by  some  precon 
certed  signal.  You  are  to  work  in  your  way,  and  he  in 
his,  till  circumstances  seem  to  call  for  mutual  support 
and  countenance.  I  cannot  even  say  whether  you  will 
see  him  or  not  ;  he  may  find  it  necessary  to  keep  out 
of  the  way  ;  but  you  may  be  sure  of  one  thing,  that  he 
will  know  where  you  are,  and  that  the  display  of,  well, 
let  us  say  a  red  silk  handkerchief — have  you  such  a 
thing?" 

"  I  will  get  one." 

1  Will  be  regarded  by  him  as  a  sign  that  you  desire 
his  presence  or  assistance,  whether  it  be  shown  about 
your  person  or  at  the  window  of  your  room." 

"  And  these  are  all  the  instructions  you  can  give 
me  ?  "  I  said,  as  he  paused. 

'  Yes,  I  don't  know  of  anything  else.  You  must 
depend  largely  upon  your  own  discretion,  and  the  ex- 
giencies  of  the  moment.  I  cannot  tell  you  now  what 
to  do.  Your  own  wit  will  be  the  best  guide.  Only,  if 
possible,  let  me  either  hear  from  you  or  see  you  by 
to-morrow  at  this  time." 

And  he  handed  me  a  cipher  in  case  I  should  wish  to 
telegraph. 


BOOK  III 

HANNAH 
XXVII 

AMY  BKI.DKN 

14  A  merrier  man 

Within  the  limits  of  becoming  mirth, 
I  never  spent  an  hour's  talk  withal." 

Love's  Labour  '*  Lost. 

I  HAD  a  client  in  R by  the  name  of  Monell ;  and 
it  was  from  him  I  had  planned  to  learn  the  best 
way  of  approaching  Mrs.  Belden.  When,  therefore,  I 
was  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  him,  almost  on  my  arrival, 
driving  on  the  long  road  behind  his  famous  trotter 
Alfred,  I  regarded  the  encounter  as  a  most  auspicious 
beginning  of  a  very  doubtful  enterprise. 

'  *  Well,  and  how  goes  the  day  ?  ' '  was  his  exclama 
tion  as,  the  first  greetings  passed,  we  drove  rapidly  into 
town. 

"  Your  part  in  it  goes  pretty  smoothly,"  I  returned  ; 
and  thinking  I  could  never  hope  to  win  his  attention 
to  my  own  affairs  till  I  had  satisfied  him  in  regard  to 
his,  I  told  him  all  I  could  concerning  the  law-suit 
then  pending  ;  a  subject  so  prolific  of  question  and 
answer,  that  we  had  driven  twice  round  the  town 
before  he  remembered  he  had  a  letter  to  post.  As  it 


252          The  Leavenworth  Case 

was  an  important  one,  admitting  of  no  delay,  we  hasted 
at  once  to  the  post-office,  where  he  went  in,  leaving  me 
outside  to  watch  the  rather  meagre  stream  of  goers  and 
comers  who  at  that  time  of  day  make  the  post-office  of 
a  country  town  their  place  of  rendezvous.  Among 
these,  for  some  reason,  I  especially  noted  one  middle- 
aged  woman  ;  why,  I  cannot  say  ;  her  appearance  was 
anything  but  remarkable.  And  yet  when  she  came  out, 
with  two  letters  in  her  hand,  one  in  a  large  and  one  in 
a  small  envelope,  and  meeting  my  eye,  hastily  drew 
them  under  her  shawl,  I  found  myself  wondering  what 
was  in  her  letters,  and  who  she  could  be,  that  the  casual 
glance  of  a  stranger  should  unconsciously  move  her  to 
an  action  so  suspicious.  But  Mr.  Monell's  reappear 
ance  at  the  same  moment  diverted  my  attention,  and, 
in  the  interest  of  the  conversation  that  followed,  I  soon 
forgot  both  the  woman  and  her  letters.  For,  determined 
he  should  have  no  opportunity  to  revert  to  that  endless 
topic,  a  law  case,  I  exclaimed  with  the  first  crack  of  the 
whip  :  "  There,  I  knew  there  was  something  I  wanted 
to  ask  you.  Do  you  know  a  woman  here  named 
Belden?" 

"A  widow?" 

"  I  don't  know.     Is  her  first  name  Amy  ?  " 

"Yes,  Mrs.  Amy  Belden." 

"  That  is  the  one.  What  can  you  tell  me  about 
her?" 

"  Well,  she  's  tfre  last  person  I  should  expect  to  see 
you  interested  in.  She  is  the  very  respectable  relict  of 
a  deceased  cabinet-maker  of  this  town  ;  lives  in  a  little 
house  down  the  street  there,  and  if  you  have  any  for 
lorn  old  tramp  to  be  lodged  over  night,  or  any  destitute 
family  of  little  ones  to  be  looked  after,  she  is  the  one 
to  go  to." 


Hannah  253 

"  A  respectable  widow,  you  say.     Any  family  ?  " 

"  No  ;  lives  alone  ;  has  a  little  income,  I  believe  ; 
but  spends  her  time  in  plain  sewing  and  such  deeds  of 
charity  as  one  with  small  means,  but  willing  heart,  can 
find  an  opportunity  for  in  a  town  like  this.  But  why 
in  the  name  of  wonders  do  you  ask  ?  " 

"  Business,"  said  I,  "  business.  Mrs.  Belden — don't 
mention  it,  by  the  way  —  has  got  mixed  up  in  a  case  of 
mine,  and  I  felt  curious  to  know  something  about  her. 
And  I  am  not  satisfied  yet.  The  fact  is,  I  would  give 
something  for  the  opportunity  of  studying  this  woman's 
character.  Now,  could  n't  3^ou  manage  to  get  me 
introduced  into  her  house  in  some  way  that  would 
make  it  possible  and  proper  for  me  to  converse  with 
her  at  my  leisure  ?  Business  would  thank  you  if  you 
could." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  it  can  be  done.  She  used  to  take 
lodgers  in  the  summer  when  the  hotel  was  full,  and 
might  be  induced  to  give  a  bed  to  a  friend  of  mine  who 
is  very  anxious  to  be  near  the  post-office  on  account  of 
a  business  telegram  he  is  expecting,  and  which  when  it 
comes  will  demand  his  immediate  attention."  And 
Mr.  Monell  gave  me  a  sly  wink  of  his  eye,  little  imag 
ining  how  near  the  mark  he  had  struck. 

'  You  need  not  say  that.  Ttll  her  I  have  a  peculiar 
dislike  to  sleeping  in  a  public  house,  and  that  you 
know  of  no  one  better  fitted  to  accommodate  me,  for  the 
short  time  I  desire  to  be  in  town,  than  herself." 

"  And  what  will  be  said  of  my  hospitality  in  allow 
ing  you  under  these  circumstances  to  remain  in  any 
other  house  than  my  own  ?  ' ' 

"  I  don't  know  ;  very  hard  things,  no  doubt;  but  I 
guess  your  hospitality  can  stand  it." 

"  Well,  if  you  persist,  we  will  see  what  can  be  done/' 


254          The  Leavenworth  Case 

And  driving  up  to  a  neat  white  cottage  of  homely,  but 
sufficiently  attractive  appearance,  he  stopped. 

"This  is  her  house,"  said  he,  jumping  to  the 
ground  ;  "  let  's  go  in  and  see  what  we  can  do." 

Glancing  up  at  the  windows,  which  were  all  closed 
save  the  two  on  the  veranda  overlooking  the  street,  I 
thought  to  myself,  "  If  she  has  anybody  in  hiding  here, 
whose  presence  in  the  house  she  desires  to  keep  secret, 
it  is  folly  to  hope  she  will  take  me  in,  however  well 
recommended  I  may  come."  But,  yielding  to  the  ex 
ample  of  my  friend,  I  alighted  in  my  turn  and  followed 
him  up  the  short,  grass-bordered  walk  to  the  front  door. 

'  *  As  she  has  no  servant,  she  will  come  to  the  door 
herself,  so  be  ready, ' '  he  remarked  as  he  knocked. 

I  had  barely  time  to  observe  that  the  curtains  to  the 
window  at  my  left  suddenly  dropped,  when  a  hasty  step 
made  itself  heard  within,  and  a  quick  hand  drew  open 
the  door  ;  and  I  saw  before  me  the  woman  whom  I  had 
observed  at  the  post-office,  and  whose  action  with  the 
letters  had  struck  me  as  peculiar.  I  recognized  her  at 
first  glance,  though  she  was  differently  dressed,  and  had 
evidently  passed  through  some  worry  or  excitement 
that  had  altered  the  expression  of  her  countenance,  and 
made  her  manner  what  it  was  not  at  that  time,  strained 
and  a  trifle  uncertain,  "But  I  saw  no  reason  for  think 
ing  she  remembered  me.  On  the  contrary,  the  look 
she  directed  towards  me  had  nothing  but  inquiry  in  it, 
and  when  Mr.  Monell  pushed  me  forward  with  the  re 
mark,  "  A  friend  of  mine;  in  fact  ray  lawyer  from  New 
York,"  she  dropped  a  hurried  old-fashioned  curtsey 
whose  only  expression  was  a  manifest  desire  to  appear 
sensible  of  the  honor  conferred  upon  her,  through  the 
mist  of  a  certain  trouble  that  confused  everything  about 
her. 


Hannah  255 

"  We  have  come  to  ask  a  favor,  Mrs.  Belden  ;  but 
may  we  not  come  in  ?  "  said  my  client  in  a  round, 
hearty  voice  well  calculated  to  recall  a  person's  thoughts 
into  their  proper  channel.  "  I  have  heard  many  times 
of  your  cosy  home,  and  am  glad  of  this  opportunity  of 
seeing  it."  And  with  a  blind  disregard  to  the  look  of 
surprised  resistance  with  which  she  met  his  advance, 
he  stepped  gallantly  into  the  little  room  whose  cheery 
red  carpet  and  bright  picture-hung  walls  showed  in 
vitingly  through  the  half-open  door  at  our  left. 

Finding  her  premises  thus  invaded  by  a  sort  of  French 
coup  d'ttat,  Mrs.  Belden  made  the  best  of  the  situation, 
and  pressing  me  to  enter  also,  devoted  herself  to  hospi 
tality.  As  for  Mr.  Monell,  he  quite  blossomed  out  in 
his  endeavors  to  make  himself  agreeable  ;  so  much  so, 
that  I  shortly  found  myself  laughing  at  his  sallies, 
though  my  heart  was  full  of  anxiety  lest,  after  all,  our 
efforts  should  fail  of  the  success  they  certainly  merited. 
Meanwhile,  Mrs.  Belden  softened  more  and  more,  join 
ing  in  the  conversation  with  an  ease  hardly  to  be  ex 
pected  from  one  in  her  humble  circumstances.  Indeed, 
I  soon  saw  she  was  no  common  woman.  There  was  a 
refinement  in  her  speech  and  manner,  which,  combined 
with  her  motherly  presence  and  gentle  air,  was  very 
pleasing.  The  last  woman  in  the  world  to  suspect  of 
any  underhanded  proceeding,  if  she  had  not  shown  a 
peculiar  hesitation  when  Mr.  Monell  broached  the  sub 
ject  of  my  entertainment  there. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir  ;  I  would  be  glad,  but,"  and  she 
turned  a  very  scrutinizing  look  upon  me,  ' '  the  fact  is, 
I  have  not  taken  lodgers  of  late,  and  I  have  got  out  of 
the  way  of  the  whole  thing,  and  am  afraid  I  cannot 
make  him  comfortable.  In  short,  you  will  have  to 


256  The  Leavenworth  Case 

''But  we  can't,"  returned  Mr.  Monell.  "What, 
entice  a  fellow  into  a  room  like  this  " — and  he  cast  a 
hearty  admiring  glance  round  the  apartment  which,  for 
all  its  simplicity,  both  its  warm  coloring  and  general 
air  of  cosiness  amply  merited — "  and  then  turn  a  cold 
shoulder  upon  him  when  he  humbly  entreats  the  honor 
of  staying  a  single  night  in  the  enjoyment  of  its  attrac 
tions  ?  No,  no,  Mrs.  Belden  ;  I  know  you  too  well  for 
that.  Lazarus  himself  could  n't  come  to  your  door  and 
be  turned  away  ;  much  less  a  good-hearted,  clever- 
headed  young  gentleman  like  my  friend  here." 

"  You  are  very  good,"  she  began,  an  almost  weak 
love  of  praise  showing  itself  for  a  moment  in  her  eyes  ; 
"  but  I  have  no  room  prepared.  I  have  been  house- 
cleaning,  and  everything  is  topsy-turvy.  Mrs.  Wright, 
now,  over  the  way ' ' 

"  My  young  friend  is  going  to  stop  here,"  Mr. 
Monell  broke  in,  with  frank  positiveness.  "  If  I  can 
not  have  him  at  my  own  house, — and  for  certain  reasons 
it  is  not  advisable, — I  shall  at  least  have  the  satisfaction 
of  knowing  he  is  in  the  charge  of  the  best  housekeeper 
inR ." 

"  Yes,"  I  put  in,  but  without  too  great  a  show  of  in 
terest  ;  "  I  should  be  sorry,  once  introduced  here,  to  be 
obliged  to  go  elsewhere." 

The  troubled  eye  wavered  away  from  us  to  the  door. 

"  I  was  never  called  inhospitable,"  she  commenced  ; 
'•'  but  everything  in  such  disorder.  What  time  would 
you  like  to  come  ?  " 

"  I  was  in  hopes  I  might  remain  now,"  I  replied  ; 
"  I  have  some  letters  to  write,  and  ask  nothing  better 
than  for  leave  to  sit  here  and  write  them." 

At  the  word  letters  I  saw  her  hand  go  to  her  pocket 
in  a  movement  which  must  have  been  involuntary,  for 


Hannah  257 

her  countenance  did  not  change,  and  she  made  the 
quick  reply  : 

"  Well,  you  may.  If  you  can  put  up  with  such  poor 
accommodations  as  I  can  offer,  it  shall  not  be  said  I  re 
fused  you  what  Mr.  Monell  is  pleased  to  call  a  favor." 

And,  complete  in  her  reception  as  she  had  been  in  her 
resistance,  she  gave  us  a  pleasant  smile,  and,  ignoring 
my  thanks,  bustled  out  with  Mr.  Monell  to  the  buggy, 
where  she  received  my  bag  and  what  was,  doubtless, 
more  to  her  taste,  the  compliments  he  was  now  more 
than  ever  ready  to  bestow  upon  her. 

"  I  will  see  that  a  room  is  got  ready  for  you  in  a  very 
short  space  of  time,"  she  said,  upon  re-entering. 
"  Meanwhile,  make  yourself  at  home  here;  and  if  you 
wish  to  write,  why  I  think  you  will  find  everything  for 
the  purpose  in  these  drawers."  And  wheeling  up  a 
table  to  the  easy  chair  in  which  I  sat,  she  pointed  to 
the  small  compartments  beneath,  with  an  air  of  such 
manifest  desire  to  have  me  make  use  of  anything  and 
everything  she  had,  that  I  found  myself  wondering 
over  my  position  with  a  sort  of  startled  embarrassment 
that  was  not  remote  from  shame. 

"  Thank  you;  I  have  materials  of  my  own,"  said  I, 
and  hastened  to  open  my  bag  and  bring  out  the  writing- 
case,  which  I  always  carried  with  me. 

"  Then  I  will  leave  you,"  said  she;  and  with  a  quick 
bend  and  a  short,  hurried  look  out  of  the  window,  she 
hastily  quitted  the  room. 

I  could  hear  her  steps  cross  the  hall,  go  up  two  or 
three  stairs,  pause,  go  up  the  rest  of  the  flight,  pause 
again,  and  then  pass  on.  I  was  left  on  the  first  floor 
alone. 


XXVIII 

A  WKIRD  EXPERIENCE 

**  Flat  burglary  as  ever  was  committed." 

Much  Ado  about  Nothing. 

THE  first  thing  I  did  was  to  inspect  with  greater 
care  the  room  in  which  I  sat. 

It  was  a  pleasant  apartment,  as  I  have  already  said  ; 
square,  sunny,  and  well  furnished.  On  the  floor  was 
a  crimson  carpet,  on  the  walls  several  pictures,  at  the 
windows,  cheerful  curtains  of  white,  tastefully  orna 
mented  with  ferns  and  autumn  leaves  ;  in  one  corner 
an  old  melodeon,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  room  a  table 
draped  with  a  bright  cloth,  on  which  were  various  little 
knick-knacks  which,  without  being  rich  or  expensive, 
were  both  pretty  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  ornamental. 
But  it  was  not  these  things,  which  I  had  seen  repeated 
in  many  other  country  homes,  that  especially  attracted 
my  attention,  or  drew  me  forward  in  the  slow  march 
which  I  now  undertook  around  the  room.  It  was  the 
something  underlying  all  these,  the  evidences  which  I 
found,  or  sought  to  find,  not  only  in  the  general  aspect 
of  the  room,  but  in  each  trivial  object  I  encountered, 
of  the  character,  disposition,  and  history  of  the  woman 
with  whom  I  now  had  to  deal.  It  was  for  this  reason 
I  studied  the  daguerreotypes  on  the  mantel-piece,  the 
books  on  the  shelf,  and  the  music  on  the  rack  ;  for  this 
and  the  still  further  purpose  of  noting  if  any 

258 


Hannah  259 

indications  were  to  be  found  of  there  being  in  the  house 
any  such  person  as  Hannah. 

First  then,  for  the  little  library,  which  I  was  pleased 
to  see  occupied  one  corner  of  the  room.  Composed  of 
a  few  well-chosen  books,  poetical,  historical,  and  narra 
tive,  it  was  of  itself  sufficient  to  account  for  the  evidences 
of  latent  culture  observable  in  Mrs.  Belden's  conversa 
tion.  Taking  out  a  well-worn  copy  of  Byron,  I  opened 
it.  There  were  many  passages  marked,  and  replacing 
the  book  with  a  mental  comment  upon  her  evident  im 
pressibility  to  the  softer  emotions,  I  turned  towards  the 
melodeon  fronting  me  from  the  opposite  wall.  It  was 
closed,  but  on  its  neatly-covered  top  lay  one  or  two 
hymn-books,  a  basket  of  russet  apples,  and  a  piece  of 
half-completed  knitting  work. 

I  took  up  the  latter,  but  was  forced  to  lay  it  down 
again  without  a  notion  for  what  it  was  intended.  Pro 
ceeding,  I  next  stopped  before  a  window  opening  upon 
the  small  yard  that  ran  about  the  house,  and  separated 
it  from  the  one  adjoining.  The  scene  without  failed  to 
attract  me,  but  the  window  itself  drew  my  attention, 
for,  written  with  a  diamond  point  on  one  of  the  panes, 
I  perceived  a  row  of  letters  which,  as  nearly  as  I  could 
make  out,  were  meant  for  some  word  or  words,  but 
which  utterly  failed  in  sense  or  apparent  connection. 
Passing  it  by  as  the  work  of  some  school-girl,  I  glanced 
down  at  the  work-basket  standing  on  a  table  at  my 
side.  It  was  full  of  various  kinds  of  work,  among 
which  I  spied  a  pair  of  stockings,  which  were  much  too 
small,  as  well  as  in  too  great  a  state  of  disrepair,  to  be 
long  to  Mrs.  Belden  ;  and  drawing  them  carefully  out, 
I  examined  them  for  any  name  on  them.  Do  not  start 
when  I  say  I  saw  the  letter  H  plainly  marked  upon 
them.  Thrusting  them  back,  I  drew  a  deep  breath  of 


The  Leavenworth  Case 

relief,  gazing,  as  I  did  so,  out  of  the  window,  when 
those  letters  again  attracted  my  attention, 


What  could  they  mean  ?  Idly  I  began  to  read  them 
backward,  when  —  But  try  for  yourself,  reader,  and 
judge  of  my  surprise  !  Elate  at  the  discovery  thus 
made,  I  sat  down  to  write  my  letters.  I  had  barely 
finished  them,  when  Mrs.  Belden  came  in  with  the  an 
nouncement  that  supper  was  ready.  "  As  for  your 
room,"  said  she,  "  I  have  prepared  my  own  room  for 
your  use,  thinking  you  would  like  to  remain  on  the 
first  floor."  And,  throwing  open  a  door  at  my  side,  she 
displayed  a  small,  but  comfortable  room,  in  which  I 
could  dimly  see  a  bed,  an  immense  bureau,  and  a 
shadowy  looking-glass  in  a  dark,  old-fashioned  frame. 

"  I  live  in  very  primitive  fashion,"  she  resumed, 
leading  the  way  into  the  dining-room;  "  but  I  mean  to 
be  comfortable  and  make  others  so.'* 

*'  I  should  say  you  amply  succeeded,"  1  rejoined, 
with  an  appreciative  glance  at  her  well-spread  board. 

She  smiled,  and  I  felt  I  had  paved  the  way  to  her 
good  graces  in  a  way  that  would  yet  redound  to  my 
advantage. 

Shall  I  ever  forget  that  supper  !  its  dainties}  its  pleas 
ant  freedom,  its  mysterious,  pervading  atmosphere  of 
unreality  :  and  the  constant  sense  which  every  bounti 
ful  dish  she  pressed  upon  me  brought  of  the  shame  of 
eating  this  woman's  food  with  such  feelings  of  suspi 
cion  in  my  heart  !  Shall  I  ever  forget  the  emotion  I  ex 
perienced  when  I  first  perceived  she  had  something  on 
ker  mind,  which  she  longed,  yet  hesitated,  to  give 


Hannah 


utterance  to  !  Or  how  she  started  when  a  cat  jumped 
from  the  sloping  roof  of  the  kitchen  on  to  the  grass-plot 
at  the  back  of  the  house;  or  how  my  heart  throbbed 
when  I  heard,  or  thought  I  heard,  a  board  creak  over 
head  !  We  were  in  a  long  and  narrow  room  which 
seemed,  curiously  enough,  to  run  crosswise  of  the 
house,  opening  on  one  side  into  the  parlor,  and  on  the 
other  into  the  small  bedroom,  which  had  been  allotted 
to  my  use. 

"  You  live  in  this  house  alone,  without  fear  ?  "  I 
asked,  as  Mrs.  Belden,  contrary  to  my  desire,  put  an 
other  bit  of  cold  chicken  on  my  plate.  "  Have  you  no 
marauders  in  this  town  :  no  tramps,  of  whom  a  solitary 
woman  like  you  might  reasonably  be  afraid  ?  " 

"  No  one  will  hurt  me,"  said  she;  "  and  no  one  ever 
came  here  for  food  or  shelter  but  got  it/' 

"  I  should  think,  then,  that  living  as  you  do,  upon  a 
railroad,  you  would  be  constantly  overrun  with  worth 
less  beings  whose  only  trade  is  to  take  all  they  can 
get  without  giving  a  return." 

"  I  cannot  turn  them  away.  It  is  the  only  luxury  I 
have:  to  feed  the  poor." 

"  But  the  idle,  restless  ones,  who  neither  will  work, 
nor  let  others  work  -  " 

"  Are  still  the  poor/' 

Mentally  remarking,  here  is  the  woman  to  shield  an 
unfortunate  who  has  somehow  become  entangled  in  the 
meshes  of  a  great  crime,  I  drew  back  from  the  table. 
As  I  did  so,  the  thought  crossed  me  that,  in  case  there 
was  any  such  person  in  the  house  as  Hannah,  she 
would  take  the  opportunity  of  going  up-stairs  with 
something  for  her  to  eat  ;  and  that  she  might  not  feel 
hampered  by  my  presence,  I  stepped  out  on  the  veranda 
with  my  cigar. 


262          The  Leavenworth  Case 

While  smoking  it,  I  looked  about  for  Q.  I  felt  that 
the  least  token  of  his  presence  in  town  would  be  very 
encouraging  at  this  time.  But  it  seemed  I  was  not  to 
be  afforded  even  that  small  satisfaction.  If  Q  was  any 
where  near,  he  was  lying  very  low. 

Once  again  seated  with  Mrs.  Belden  (who  I  know 
came  down-stairs  with  an  empty  plate,  for  going  into 
the  kitchen  for  a  drink,  I  caught  her  in  the  act  of  set 
ting  it  down  on  the  table),  I  made  up  my  mind  to  wait 
a  reasonable  length  of  time  for  what  she  had  to  say;  and 
then,  if  she  did  not  speak,  make  an  endeavor  on  my 
own  part  to  surprise  her  secret. 

But  her  avowal  was  nearer  and  of  a  different  nature 
from  -what  I  expected,  and  brought  its  own  train  of 
consequences  with  it. 

'  You  are  a  lawyer,  I  believe,"  she  began,  taking 
down  her  knitting  work,  with  a  forced  display  of 
industry. 

"  Yes,"  I  said;  "  that  is  my  profession." 

She  remained  for  a  moment  silent,  creating  great 
havoc  in  her  work  I  am  sure,  from  the  glance  of  sur 
prise  and  vexation  she  afterwards  threw  it.  Then,  in 
a  hesitating  voice,  remarked  : 

"  Perhaps  you  may  be  willing,  then,  to  give  me 
some  advice.  The  truth  is,  I  am  in  a  very  curious 
predicament ;  one  from  which  I  don't  know  how  to 
escape,  and  yet  which  demands  immediate  action.  I 
should  like  to  tell  you  about  it ;  may  I  ?  " 

"  You  may  ;  I  shall  be  only  too  happy  to  give  you 
any  advice  in  my  power." 

She  drew  in  her  breath  with  a  sort  of  vague  relief, 
though  her  forehead  did  not  lose  its  frown. 

"  It  can  all  be  said  in  a  few  words.  I  have  in  my 
possession  a  package  of  papers  which  were  intrusted  to 


Hannah  263 

me  by  two  ladies,  with  the  understanding  that  I  should 
neither  return  nor  destroy  them  without  the  full  cog 
nizance  and  expressed  desire  of  both  parties,  given  in 
person  or  writing.  That  they  were  to  remain  in  my 
hands  till  then,  and  that  nothing  or  nobody  should 
extort  them  from  me. ' ' 

"  That  is  easily  understood,"  said  I  ;  for  she 
stopped. 

"  But,  now  comes  word  from  one  of  the  ladies,  the 
one,  too,  most  interested  in  the  matter,  that,  for  certain 
reasons,  the  immediate  destruction  of  those  papers  is 
necessary  to  her  peace  and  safety. ' ' 

'  *  And  do  you  want  to  know  what  your  duty  is  in  this 
case?" 

* '  Yes, ' '  she  tremulously  replied. 

I  rose.  I  could  not  help  it:  a  flood  of  conjectures 
rushing  in  tumult  over  me. 

"It  is  to  hold  on  to  the  papers  like  grim  death  till 
released  from  your  guardianship  by  the  combined  wish 
of  both  parties.." 

"  Is  that  your  opinion  as  a  lawyer  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  as  a  man.  Once  pledged  in  that  way, 
you  have  no  choice.  It  would  be  a  betrayal  of  trust 
to  yield  to  the  solicitations  of  one  party  what  you  have 
undertaken  to  return  to  both.  The  fact  that  grief  or 
loss  might  follow  your  retention  of  these  papers  does 
not  release  you  from  your  bond.  You  have  nothing  to 
do  with  that  ;  besides,  you  are  by  no  means  sure  that 
the  representations  of  the  so-called  interested  party  are 
true.  You  might  be  doing  a  greater  wrong,  by  de 
stroying  in  this  way,  what  is  manifestly  considered  of 
value  to  them  both,  than  by  preserving  the  papers 
intact,  according  to  compact." 

"  But  the  circumstances  ?  Circumstances  alter  cases  ; 


^64          The  Leavenworth  Case 

and  in  short,  it  seems  to  me  that  the  wishes  of  the  one 
most  interested  ought  to  be  regarded,  especially  as 
there  is  an  estrangement  between  these  ladies  which 
may  hinder  the  other's  consent  from  ever  being 
obtained." 

"  No,"  said  I  ;  "  two  wrongs  never  make  a  right ; 
nor  are  we  at  liberty  to  do  an  act  of  justice  at  the  ex 
pense  of  an  injustice.  The  papers  must  be  preserved, 
Mrs.  Belden." 

Her  head  sank  very  despondingly  ;  evidently  it  had 
been  her  wish  to  please  the  interested  party.  '  *  I<aw  is 
very  hard,"  she  said  ;  "  very  hard." 

"  This  is  not  only  law,  but  plain  duty,"  I  remarked. 
"  Suppose  a  case  different  ;  suppose  the  honor  and 
happiness  of  the  other  party  depended  upon  the  pre 
servation  of  the  papers ;  where  would  your  duty  be 
then?" 

"  But " 

"  A  contract  is  a  contract,"  said  I,  "  and  cannot  be 
tampered  with.  Having  accepted  the  trust  and  given 
your  word,  you  are  obliged  to  fulfil,  to  the  letter,  all  its 
conditions.  It  would  be  a  breach  of  trust  for  you  to 
return  or  destroy  the  papers  without  the  mutual  con 
sent  necessary." 

An  expression  of  great  gloom  settled  slowly  over  her 
features.  "  I  suppose  you  are  right,"  said  she,  and 
became  silent. 

Watching  her,  I  thought  to  myself,  "  If  I  were  Mr. 
Gryce,  or  even  Q,  I  would  never  leave  this  seat  till  I 
had  probed  this  matter  to  the  bottom,  learned  the 
names  of  the  parties  concerned,  and  where  those  pre 
cious  papers  are  hidden,  which  she  declares  to  be  of  so 
much  importance."  But  being  neither,  I  could  only 
keep  her  talking  upon  the  subject  until  she  should  let 


Hannah  265 

fall  some  word  that  might  serve  as  a  guide  to  my 
further  enlightenment  ;  I  therefore  turned,  with  the  in 
tention  of  asking  her  some  question,  when  my  attention 
was  attracted  by  the  figure  of  a  woman  coming  out  of 
the  back-door  of  the  neighboring  house,  who,  for  gen 
eral  dilapidation  and  uncouthness  of  bearing,  was  a 
perfect  type  of  the  style  of  tramp  of  whom,  we  had  been 
talking  at  the  supper  table.  Gnawing  a  crust  which 
she  threw  away  as  she  reached  the  street,  she  trudged 
down  the  path,  her  scanty  dress,  piteous  in  its  rags  and 
soil,  flapping  in  the  keen  spring  wind,  and  revealing 
ragged  shoes  red  with  the  mud  of  the  highway. 

"  There  is  a  customer  that  may  interest  you," 
said  I. 

Mrs.  Belden  seemed  to  awake  from  a  trance.  Rising 
slowly,  she  looked  out,  and  with  a  rapidly  softening 
gaze  surveyed  the  forlorn  creature  before  her. 

"  Poor  thing  !  "  she  muttered  ;  "  but  I  cannot  do 
much  for  her  to-night.  A  good  supper  is  all  I  can  give 
her." 

And,  going  to  the  front  door,  she  bade  her  step  round 
the  house  to  the  kitchen,  where,  in  another  moment,  I 
heard  the  rough  creature's  voice  rise  in  one  long  "  Bless 
you  !  "  that  could  only  have  been  produced  by  the  set 
ting  before  her  of  the  good  things  with  which  Mrs. 
Belden' s  larder  seemed  teeming. 

But  supper  was  not  all  she  wanted.  After  a  decent 
length  of  time,  employed  as  I  should  judge  in  mastica 
tion,  I  heard  her  voice  rise  once  more  in  a  plea  for 
shelter. 

"  The  barn,  ma'am,  or  the  wood-house.  Any  place 
where  I  can  lie  out  of  the  wind."  And  she  commenced 
a  long  tale  of  want  and  disease,  so  piteous  to  hear  that 
I  was  not  at  all  surprised  when  Mrs.  Belden  told  me, 


266  The  Leavenworth  Case 

upon  re-entering,  that  she  had  consented,  notwithstand 
ing  her  previous  determination,  to  allow  the  woman  to 
lie  before  the  kitchen  fire  for  the  night. 

'  *  She  has  such  an  honest  eye, ' '  said  she  ;  ' '  and 
charity  is  my  only  luxury." 

The  interruption  of  this  incident  effectually  broke  up 
our  conversation.  Mrs.  Belden  went  up-stairs,  and  for 
some  time  I  was  left  alone  to  ponder  over  what  I  had 
heard,  and  determine  upon  my  future  course  of  action. 
I  had  just  reached  the  conclusion  that  she  would  be 
fully  as  liable  to  be  carried  away  by  her  feelings  to  the 
destruction  of  the  papers  in  her  charge,  as  to  be  gov 
erned  by  the  rules  of  equity  I  had  laid  down  to  her, 
when  I  heard  her  stealthily  descend  the  stairs  and  go 
out  by  the  front  door.  Distrustful  of  her  intentions,  I 
took  up  my  hat  and  hastily  followed  her.  She  was  on 
her  way  down  the  main  street,  and  my  first  thought 
was,  that  she  was  bound  for  some  neighbor's  house  or 
perhaps  for  the  hotel  itself ;  but  the  settled  swing  into 
which  she  soon  altered  her  restless  pace  satisfied  me 
that  she  had  some  distant  goal  in  prospect  ;  and  before 
long  I  found  myself  passing  the  hotel  with  its  appurte 
nances,  even  the  little  schoolhouse,  that  was  the  last 
building  at  this  end  of  the  village,  and  stepping  out 
into  the  country  beyond.  What  could  it  mean  ? 

But  still  her  fluttering  figure  hasted  on,  the  outlines 
of  her  form,  with  its  close  shawl  and  neat  bonnet,  grow 
ing  fainter  and  fainter  in  the  now  settled  darkness  of 
an  April  night;  and  still  I  followed,  walking  on  the 
turf  at  the  side  of  the  road  lest  she  should  hear  my  foot 
steps  and  look  round.  At  last  we  reached  a  bridge. 
Over  this  I  could  hear  her  pass,  and  then  every  sound 
ceased.  She  had  paused,  and  was  evidently  listening. 
It  would  not  do  for  me  to  pause  too,  so  gathering  myself 


Hannah  267 

into  as  awkward  a  shape  as  possible,  I  sauntered  by  her 
down  the  road,  but  arrived  at  a  certain  point,  stopped, 
and  began  retracing  my  steps  with  a  sharp  lookout  for 
her  advancing  figure,  till  I  had  arrived  once  more  at 
the  bridge.  She  was  not  there. 

Convinced  now  that  she  had  discovered  my  motive 
for  being  in  her  house  and,  by  leading  me  from  it,  had 
undertaken  to  suppty  Hannah  with  an  opportunity  for 
escape,  I  was  about  to  hasten  back  to  the  charge  I  had 
so  incautiously  left,  when  a  strange  sound  heard  at  my 
left  arrested  me.  It  came  from  the  banks  of  the  puny 
stream  which  ran  under  the  bridge,  and  was  like  the 
creaking  of  an  old  door  on  worn-out  hinges. 

Leaping  the  fence,  I  made  my  way  as  best  I  could 
down  the  sloping  field  in  the  direction  from  which  the 
sound  came.  It  was  quite  dark,  and  my  progress  was 
slow  ;  so  much  so,  that  I  began  to  fear  I  had  ventured 
upon  a  wild-goose  chase,  when  an  unexpected  streak 
of  lightning  shot  across  the  sky,  and  by  its  glare  I  saw 
before  me  what  seemed,  in  the  momentary  glimpse  I  had 
of  it,  an  old  barn.  From  the  rush  of  waters  near  at 
hand,  I  judged  it  to  be  somewhere  on  the  edge  of  the 
stream,  and  consequently  hesitated  to  advance,  when  I 
heard  the  sound  of  heavy  breathing  near  me,  followed 
by  a  stir  as  of  some  one  feeling  his  way  over  a  pile  of 
loose  boards;  and  presently,  while  I  stood  there,  a  faint 
blue  light  flashed  up  from  the  interior  of  the  barn,  and 
I  saw,  through  the  tumbled-down  door  that  faced  me, 
the  form  of  Mrs.  Belden  standing  with  a  lighted  match 
in  her  hand,  gazing  round  on  the  four  walls  that  en 
compassed  her.  Hardly  daring  to  breathe,  lest  I  should 
alarm  her,  I  watched  her  while  she  turned  and  peered 
at  the  roof  above  her,  which  was  so  old  as  to  be  more 
than  half  open  to  the  sky,  at  the  flooring  beneath,which 


268  The  Leavenworth  Case 

was  in  a  state  of  equal  dilapidation,  and  finally  at  a 
small  tin  box  which  she  drew  from  under  her  shawl 
and  laid  on  the  ground  at  her  feet.  The  sight  of  that 
box  at  once  satisfied  me  as  to  the  nature  of  her  errand. 
She  was  going  to  hide  what  she  dared  not  destroy ;  and, 
relieved  upon  this  point,  I  was  about  to  take  a  step  for 
ward  when  the  match  went  out  in  her  hand.  While 
she  was  engaged  in  lighting  another,  I  considered  that 
perhaps  it  would  be  better  for  me  not  to  arouse  her 
apprehensions  by  accosting  her  at  this  time,  and  thus 
endanger  the  success  of  my  main  scheme;  but  to  wait 
till  she  was  gone,  before  I  endeavored  to  secure  the 
box.  Accordingly  I  edged  my  way  up  to  the  side  of 
the  barn  and  waited  till  she  should  leave  it,  knowing 
that  if  I  attempted  to  peer  in  at  the  door,  I  ran  great 
risk  of  being  seen,  owing  to  the  frequent  streaks  of 
lightning  which  now  flashed  about  us  on  every  side. 
Minute  after  minute  went  by, with  its  weird  alternations 
of  heavy  darkness  and  sudden  glare  ;  and  still  she  did 
not  come.  At  last,  just  as  I  was  about  to  start  impa 
tiently  from  my  hiding-place,  she  reappeared,  and  began 
to  withdraw  with  faltering  steps  toward  the  bridge. 
When  I  thought  her  quite  out  of  hearing,  I  stole  from 
my  retreat  and  entered  the  barn.  It  was  of  course  as 
dark  as  Erebus,  but  thanks  to  being  a  smoker  I  was  as 
well  provided  with  matches  as  she  had  been,  and  hav 
ing  struck  one,  I  held  it  up  ;  but  the  light  it  gave  was 
very  feeble,  and  as  I  did  not  know  just  where  to  look, 
it  went  out  before  I  had  obtained  more  than  a  cursory 
glimpse  of  the  spot  where  I  was.  I  thereupon  lit  an 
other  ;  but  though  I  confined  my  attention  to  one  place, 
namely,  the  floor  at  my  feet,  it  too  went  out  before  I 
could  conjecture  by  means  of  any  sign  seen  there  where 
she  had  hidden  the  box.  I  now  for  the  first  time  realized 


Hannah  269 

the  difficulty  before  me.  She  had  probably  made  up 
her  mind,  before  she  left  home,  in  just  what  portion  of 
this  old  barn  she  would  conceal  her  treasure ;  but  I  had 
nothing  to  guide  me  :  I  could  only  waste  matches. 
And  I  did  waste  them.  A  dozen  had  been  lit  and  ex 
tinguished  before  I  was  so  much  as  sure  the  box  was 
not  under  a  pile  of  debris  that  lay  in  one  corner,  and  I 
had  taken  the  last  in  my  hand  before  I  became  aware 
that  one  of  the  broken  boards  of  the  floor  was  pushed 
a  little  out  of  its  proper  position.  One  match !  and  that 
board  was  to  be  raised,  the  space  beneath  examined, 
and  the  box,  if  there,  lifted  safely  out. 

I  concluded  not  to  waste  my  resources,  so  kneeling 
down  in  the  darkness,  I  groped  for  the  board,  tried  it, 
and  found  it  to  be  loose.  Wrenching  at  it  with  all  my 
strength,  I  tore  it  free  and  cast  it  aside  :  then  lighting 
my  match  looked  into  the  hole  thus  made.  Something, 
I  could  not  tell  what,  stone  or  box,  met  my  eye,  but 
while  I  reached  for  it,  the  match  flew  out  of  my  hand. 
Deploring  my  carelessness,  but  determined  at  all 
hazards  to  secure  what  I  had  seen,  I  dived  down  deep 
into  the  hole,  and  in  another  moment  had  the  object  of 
my  curiosity  in  my  hands.  It  was  the  box  ! 

Satisfied  at  this  result  of  my  efforts,  I  turned  to  de 
part,  my  one  wish  now  being  to  arrive  home  before 
Mrs.  Belden.  Was  this  possible  ?  She  had  several 
minutes  the  start  of  me  ;  I  would  have  to  pass  her  on 
the  road,  and  in  so  doing  might  be  recognized.  Was 
the  end  worth  the  risk  ?  I  decided  that  it  was. 

Regaining  the  highway,  I  started  at  a  brisk  pace. 
For  some  little  distance  I  kept  it  up,  neither  overtaking 
nor  meeting  any  one.  But  suddenly,  at  a  turn  in  the 
road,  I  came  unexpectedly  upon  Mrs.  Belden,  standing 
in  the  middle  of  the  path,  looking  back.  Somewhat 


270          The  Leavenworth  Case 

disconcerted,  I  hastened  swiftly  by  her,  expecting  her 
to  make  some  effort  to  stop  me.  But  she  let  me  pass 
without  a  word.  Indeed,  I  doubt  now  if  she  even  saw 
or  heard  me.  Astonished  at  this  treatment,  and  still 
more  surprised  that  she  made  no  attempt  to  follow  me, 
T  looked  back,  when  I  saw  what  enchained  her  to  the 
spot,  and  made  her  so  unmindful  of  my  presence.  The 
barn  behind  us  was  on  fire  ! 

Instantly  I  realized  it  was  the  work  of  my  hands  ;  I 
had  dropped  a  half-extinguished  match,  and  it  had 
fallen  upon  some  inflammable  substance. 

Aghast  at  the  sight,  I  paused  in  my  turn,  and  stood 
staring.  Higher  and  higher  the  red  flames  mounted, 
brighter  and  brighter  glowed  the  clouds  above,  the 
stream  beneath  ;  and  in  the  fascination  of  watching  it 
all,  I  forgot  Mrs.  Belden.  But  a  short,  agitated  gasp 
in  my  vicinity  soon  recalled  her  presence  to  my  mind, 
and  drawing  nearer,  I  heard  her  exclaim  like  a  person 
speaking  in  a  dream,  "  Well,  I  did  n't  mean  to  do  it  " ; 
then  lower,  and  with  a  certain  satisfaction  in  her  tone, 
"  But  it  's  all  right,  any  way  ;  the  tiling  is  lost  now  for 
good,  and  Mary  will  be  satisfied  without  any  one  being 
to  blame." 

I  did  not  linger  to  hear  more  ;  if  this  was  the  con 
clusion  she  had  come  to,  she  would  not  wait  there  long, 
especially  as  the  sound  of  distant  shouts  and  running 
feet  announced  that  a  crowd  of  village  boys  was  on  its 
way  to  the  scene  of  the  conflagration. 

The  first  thing  I  did,  upon  my  arrival  at  the  house, 
was  to  assure  myself  that  no  evil  effects  had  followed 
my  inconsiderate  desertion  of  it  to  the  mercies  of  the 
tramp  she  had  taken  in  ;  the  next  to  retire  to  my  room, 
and  take  a  peep  at  the  box.  I  found  it  to  be  a  neat 
tin  coffer,  fastened  with  a  lock.  Satisfied  from  its 


Hannah  271 

weight  that  it  contained  nothing  heavier  than  the 
papers  of  which  Mrs.  Belden  had  spoken,  I  hid  it  under 
the  bed  and  returned  to  the  sitting-room.  I  had  barely 
taken  a  seat  and  lifted  a  book  when  Mrs.  Belden  came 
in. 

"  Well  !  "  cried  she,  taking  off  her  bonnet  and  re 
vealing  a  face  much  flushed  with  exercise,  but  greatly 
relieved  in  expression  ;  "  this  is  a  night  !  It  lightens, 
and  there  is  a  fire  somewhere  down  street,  and  alfo- 
gether  it  is  perfectly  dreadful  out.  I  hope  you  have 
not  been  lonesome,"  she  continued,  with  a  keen  search 
ing  of  my  face  which  I  bore  in  the  best  way  I  could. 
"  I  had  an  errand  to  attend  to,  but  did  n't  expect  to 
stay  so  long. ' ' 

I  returned  some  nonchalant  reply,  and  she  hastened 
from  the  room  to  fasten  up  the  house. 

I  waited,  but  she  did  not  come  back  ;  fearful,  per 
haps,  of  betraying  herself,  she  had  retired  to  her  own 
apartment,  leaving  me  to  take  care  of  myself  as  best  I 
might.  I  own  that  I  was  rather  relieved  at  this.  The 
fact  is,  I  did  not  feel  equal  to  any  more  excitement  that 
night,  and  was  glad  to  put  off  further  action  until  the 
next  day.  As  soon,  then,  as  the  storm  was  over,  I  my 
self  went  to  bed,  and,  after  several  ineffectual  efforts, 
succeeded  in  getting  asleep. 


XXIX 

THE  MISSING  WITNESS 

"I  fled  and  cried  out  death." 

Milton. 

MR.  RAYMOND  !  " 
The  voice  was  low  and  searching ;  it  reachtx* 
me  in  my  dreams,  waked  me,  and  caused  me  to  look  up. 
Morning  had  begun  to  break,  and  by  its  light  I  saw, 
standing  in  the  open  door  leading  into  the  dining-room, 
the  forlorn  figure  of  the  tramp  who  had  been  admitted 
into-  the  house  the  night  before.  Angry  and  per- 
plexed,  I  was  about  to  bid  her  be  gone,  when,  to  my 
great  surprise,  she  pulled  out  a  red  handkerchief  from 
her  pocket,  and  I  recognized  Q. 

"  Read  that,"  said  he,  hastily  advancing  and  putting 
a  slip  of  paper  into  my  hand.  And,  without  another 
word  or  look,  left  the  room,  closing  the  door  behind 
him. 

Rising  in  considerable  agitation,  I  took  it  to  the  win 
dow,  and  by  the  rapidly  increasing  light,  succeeded  in 
making  out  the  rudely  scrawled  lines  as  follows  : 

"  She  is  here ;  I  have  seen  her  ;  in  the  room  marked  with  a 
cross  in  the  accompanying  plan.  Wait  till  eight  o'clock,  then 

go  up.    I  will  contrive  some  means  of  getting  Mrs.  B out 

of  the  house." 

272 


Hannah 


273 


Sketched  below  this  was  the  following  plan  of  the 
upper  floor : 


I 


iill 


Hannah,  then,  was  in  the  small  back  room  over  the 
dining-room,  and  I  had  not  been  deceived  in  thinking 
I  had  heard  steps  overhead,  the  evening  before.  Greatly 
relieved,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  much  moved  at  the 
near  prospect  of  being  brought  face  to  face  with  one 
who  we  had  every  reason  to  believe  was  acquainted 
with  the  dreadful  secret  involved  in  the  Leavenworth 
murder,  I  lay  down  once  more,  and  endeavored  to  catch 
another  hour's  rest.  But  I  soon  gave  up  the  effort  in 
despair,  and  contented  myself  with  listening  to  the 
sounds  of  awakening  life  which  now  began  to  make 
themselves  heard  in  the  house  and  neighborhood. 

As  Q  had  closed  the  door  after  him,  I  could  only 
faintly  hear  Mrs.  Bel  den  when  she  came  down-stairs. 
But  the  short,  surprised  exclamation  which  she  uttered 
upon  reaching  the  kitchen  and  rinding  the  tramp  gone 
and  the  back-door  wide  open,  came  plainly  enough  to 
my  ears,  and  for  a  moment  I  was  not  sure  but  that  Q 
had  made  a  mistake  in  thus  leaving  so  unceremoniously. 
But  he  had  not  studied  Mrs.  Belden's  character  in 
vain.  As  she  came,  in  the  course  of  her  preparations 

18 


274          The  Leavenworth  Case 

for  breakfast,  into  the  room  adjoining  mine,  I  could 
hear  her  murmur  to  herself  : 

"  Poor  thing  !  She  has  lived  so  long  in  the  fields 
and  at  the  roadside,  she  finds  it  unnatural  to  be  cooped 
up  in  the  house  all  night." 

The  trial  of  that  breakfast  !  The  effort  to  eat  and 
appear  unconcerned,  to  chat  and  make  no  mistake, — 
may  I  never  be  called  upon  to  go  through  such  an 
other!  But  at  last  it  was  over,  and  I  was  left  free  to 
await  in  my  own  room  the  time  for  the  dreaded  though 
much-to-be-desired  interview.  Slowly  the  minutes 
passed;  eight  o'clock  struck,  when,  just  as  the  last  vi 
bration  ceased,  there  came  a  loud  knock  at  the  back 
door,  and  a  little  boy  burst  into  the  kitchen,  crying  at 
the  top  of  his  voice:  "Papa  's  got  a  fit !  Oh,  Mrs. 
Belden  !  papa  's  got  a  fit ;  do  come  !  " 

Rising,  as  was  natural,  I  hastened  towards  the 
kitchen,  meeting  Mrs.  Belden 's  anxious  face  in  the 
doorway. 

"  A  poor  wood-chopper  down  the  street  has  fallen  in 
a  fit, "  she  said.  ' '  Will  you  please  watch  over  the  house 
while  I  see  what  I  can  do  for  him  ?  I  won't  be  absent 
any  longer  than  I  can  help." 

And  almost  without  waiting  for  my  reply,  she  caught 
up  a  shawl,  threw  it  over  her  head,  and  followed  the 
urchin,  who  was  in  a  state  of  great  excitement,  out 
into  the  street. 

Instantly  the  silence  of  death  seemed  to  fill  the 
house,  and  a  dread  the  greatest  I  had  ever  experienced 
settled  upon  me.  To  leave  the  kitchen,  go  up  those 
stairs,  and  confront  that  girl  seemed  for  the  moment 
beyond  my  power  ;  but,  once  on  the  stair,  I  found 
myself  relieved  from  the  especial  dread  which  had 
overwhelmed  me,  and  possessed,  instead,  of  a  sort  of 


Hannah  275 

combative  curiosity  that  led  me  to  throw  open  the 
door  which  I  saw  at  the  top  with  a  certain  fierceness 
new  to  my  nature,  and  not  altogether  suitable,  perhaps, 
to  the  occasion. 

I  found  myself  in  a  large  bedroom,  evidently  the 
one  occupied  by  Mrs.  Belden  the  night  before.  Barely 
stopping  to  note  certain  evidences  of  her  having  passed 
a  restless  night,  I  passed  on  to  the  door  leading  into 
the  room  marked  with  a  cross  in  the  plan  drawn  for  me 
by  Q.  It  was  a  rough  affair,  made  of  pine  boards 
rudely  painted.  Pausing  before  it,  I  listened.  All 
was  still.  Raising  the  latch,  I  endeavored  to  enter. 
The  door  was  locked.  Pausing  again,  I  bent  my  ear 
to  the  keyhole.  Not  a  sound  came  from  within  ,  the 
grave  itself  could  not  have  been  stiller.  Awe-struck 
and  irresolute,  I  looked  about  me  and  questioned  what 
I  had  best  do.  Suddenly  I  remembered  that,  in  the 
plan  Q  had  given  me,  I  had  seen  intimation  of  another 
door  leading  into  this  same  room  from  the  one  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  hall.  Going  hastily  around  to  it,  I 
tried  it  with  my  hand.  But  it  was  as  fast  as  tLe  other. 
Convinced  at  last  that  nothing  was  left  me  but  force,  I 
spoke  for  the  first  time,  and,  calling  the  girl  by  name, 
commanded  her  to  open  the  door.  Receiving  no  re 
sponse,  I  said  aloud  with  an  accent  of  severity  : 

' '  Hannah  Chester,  you  are  discovered ;  if  you  do  not 
open  the  door,  we  shall  be  obliged  to  break  it  down  ; 
save  us  the  trouble,  then,  and  open  immediately." 

Still  no  reply. 

Going  back  a  step,  I  threw  my  whole  weight  against 
the  door.  It  creaked  ominously,  but  still  resisted. 
Stopping  only  long  enough  to  be  sure  no  movement 
had  taken  place  within,  I  pressed  against  it  once  more, 
his  time  with  all  my  strength,  when  it  flew  from  its 


276  The  Leavenworth  Case 

hinges,  and  I  fell  forward  into  a  room  so  stifling,  drill, 
and  dark  that  I  paused  for  a  moment  to  collect  my 
scattered  senses  before  venturing  to  look  around  me. 
It  was  well  I  did  so.  In  another  moment,  the  pallor 
and  fixity  of  the  pretty  Irish  face  staring  upon  me  from 
amidst  the  tumbled  clothes  of  a  bed,  drawn  up  against 
the  wall  at  my  side,  struck  me  with  so  deathlike  a  chill 
that,  had  it  not  been  for  that  one  instant  of  preparation, 
I  should  have  been  seriously  dismayed.  As  it  was,  I 
could  not  prevent  a  feeling  of  sickly  apprehension  from 
seizing  me  as  I  turned  towards  the  silent  figure 
stretched  so  near,  and  observed  with  what  marble-like 
repose  it  lay  beneath  the  patchwork  quilt  drawn  across 
it,  asking  myself  if  sleep  could  be  indeed  so  like  death 
in  its  appearance.  For  that  it  was  a  sleeping  woman  I 
beheld,  I  did  not  seriously  doubt.  There  were  too 
many  evidences  of  careless  life  in  the  room  for  any 
other  inference.  The  clothes,  left  just  as  she  had  stepped 
from  them  in  a  circle  on  the  floor  ;  the  liberal  plate  of 
food  placed  in  waiting  for  her  on  the  chair  by  the  door, 
— food  amongst  which  I  recognized,  even  in  this  casual 
glance,  the  same  dish  which  we  had  had  for  breakfast 
— all  and  everything  in  the  room  spoke  of  robust  life 
and  reckless  belief  in  the  morrow. 

And  yet  so  white  was  the  brow  turned  up  to  the  bare 
beams  of  the  unfinished  wall  above  her,  so  glassy  the 
look  of  the  half-opened  eyes,  so  motionless  the  arm 
lying  half  under,  half  over,  the  edge  of  the  coverlid 
that  it  was  impossible  not  to  shrink  from  contact  with 
a  creature  so  sunk  in  unconsciousness.  But  contact 
seemed  to  be  necessary;  any  cry  which  I  could  raise  at 
that  moment  would  be  ineffectual  enough  to  pierce  those 
dull  ears.  Nerving  myself ,  therefore,  I  stooped  and  lifted 
the  hand  which  lay  with  its  telltale  scar  mockingly 


Hannah  277 

uppermost,  intending  to  speak,  call,  do  something, 
anything,  to  arouse  her.  But  at  the  first  touch  of  her 
hand  on  mine  an  unspeakable  horror  thrilled  me.  It 
was  not  only  icy  cold,  but  stiff.  Dropping  it  in  my 
agitation,  I  started  back  and  again  surveyed  the  face. 
Great  God  !  when  did  life  ever  look  like  that  ?  What 
sleep  ever  wore  such  pallid  hues,  such  accusing  fixed 
ness  ?  Bending  once  more  I  listened  at  the  lips.  Not 
a  breath,  nor  a  stir.  Shocked  to  the  core  of  my  being, 
I  made  one  final  effort.  Tearing  down  the  clothes,  I 
laid  my  hand  upon  her  heart.  It  was  pulseless  as  stone. 


XXX 

BURNED  PAPKR 

"I  could  have  better  spared  a  better  man." 

Henry  IV. 

I  DO  not  think  I  called  immediately  for  help.  The 
awful  shock  of  this  discovery,  corning  as  it  did  at 
the  very  moment  life  and  hope  were  strongest  within 
me  ;  the  sudden  downfall  which  it  brought  of  all  the 
plans  based  upon  this  woman's  expected  testimony  ; 
and,  worst  of  all,  the  dread  coincidence  between  this  sud 
den  death  and  the  exigency  in  which  the  guilty  party, 
whoever  it  was,  was  supposed  to  be  at  that  hour  were 
much  too  appalling  for  instant  action.  I  could  only 
stand  and  stare  at  the  quiet  face  before  me,  smiling  in 
its  peaceful  rest  as  if  death  were  pleasanter  than  we 
think,  and  marvel  over  the  providence  which  had 
brought  us  renewed  fear  instead  of  relief,  complication 
instead  of  enlightenment,  disappointment  instead  of 
realization.  For  eloquent  as  is  death,  even  on  the  faces 
of  those  unknown  and  unloved  by  us,  the  causes  and 
consequences  of  this  one  were  much  too  important  to 
allow  the  mind  to  dwell  upon  the  pathos  of  the  scene 
itself.  Hannah,  the  girl,  was  lost  in  Hannah  the  wit 
ness. 

But  gradually,  as  I  gazed,  the  look  of  expectation 
which  I  perceived  hovering  about  the  wistful  mouth 


Hannah  279 

and  half-open  lids  attracted  me,  and  I  bent  above  her 
with  a  more  personal  interest,  asking  myself  if  she 
were  quite  dead,  and  whether  or  not  immediate  medical 
assistance  would  be  of  any  avail.  But  the  more  closely 
I  looked,  the  more  certain  I  became  that  she  had  been 
dead  for  some  hours  ;  and  the  dismay  occasioned  by  this 
thought,  taken  with  the  regrets  which  I  must  ever  feel, 
that  I  had  not  adopted  the  bold  course  the  evening 
before,  and,  by  forcing  my  way  to  the  hiding-place  of 
this  poor  creature,  interrupted,  if  not  prevented  the 
consummation  of  her  fate,  startled  me  into  a  realization 
of  my  present  situation ;  and,  leaving  her  side,  I  went 
into  the  next  room,  threw  up  the  window,  and  fastened 
to  the  blind  the  red  handkerchief  which  I  had  taken 
the  precaution  to  bring  with  me. 

Instantly  a  young  man,  whom  I  was  fain  to  believe 
Q,  though  he  bore  not  the  least  resemblance,  either  in 
dress  or  facial  expression  to  any  renderings  of  that 
youth  which  I  had  }^et  seen,  emerged  from  the  tin 
smith's  house,  and  approached  the  one  I  was  in. 

Observing  him  cast  a  hurried  glance  in  my  direction, 
I  crossed  the  floor,  and  stood  awaiting  him  at  the  head 
of  the  stairs. 

"  Well  ?  "  he  whispered,  upon  entering  the  house  and 
meeting  my  glance  from  below;  "  have  you  seen  her  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  returned  bitterly,  "  I  have  seen  her  !  " 

He  hurriedly  mounted  to  my  side.  "  And  she  has 
confessed  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  have  had  no  talk  with  her."  Then,  as  I 
perceived  him  growing  alarmed  at  my  voice  and  man 
ner,  I  drew  him  into  Mrs.  Belden's  room  and  hastily 
inquired:  "  What  did  you  mean  this  morning  when 
you  informed  me  you  had  seen  this  girl  ?  that  she  was 
in  a  certain  room  where  I  might  find  her  ?  " 


280          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  What  I  said." 

"  You  have,  then,  been  to  her  room  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  have  only  been  on  the  outside  of  it.  See 
ing  a  light,  I  crawled  up  on  to  the  ledge  of  the  slanting 
roof  last  night  while  both  you  and  Mrs.  Belden  were 
out,  and,  looking  through  the  window,  saw  her  moving 
round  the  room."  He  must  have  observed  my  coun 
tenance  change,  for  he  stopped.  "  What  is  to  pay  ?  " 
he  cried. 

I  could  restrain  myself  no  longer.  "  Come,"  I  said, 
"  and  see  for  yourself  !  "  And,  leading  him  to  the 
little  room  I  had  just  left,  I  pointed  to  the  silent  form 
lying  within.  "  You  told  me  I  should  find  Hannah 
here  ;  but  you  did  not  tell  me  I  should  find  her  in  this 
condition." 

1 '  Great  heaven ! "  he  cried  with  a  start : ' '  not  dead  ?  * ' 

"Yes,"  I  said,  "  dead." 

It  seemed  as  if  he  could  not  realize  it.  "  But  it  is 
impossible  !  "  he  returned.  "  She  is  in  a  heavy  sleep, 
has  taken  a  narcotic " 

"  It  is  not  sleep,"  I  said,  "  or  if  it  is,  she  will  never 
wake.  Look  !  "  And,  taking  the  hand  once  more  in 
mine,  I  let  it  fall  in  its  stone  weight  upon  the  bed. 

The  sight  seemed  to  convince  him.  Calming  down, 
he  stood  gazing  at  her  with  a  very  strange  expression 
upon  his  face.  Suddenly  he  moved  and  began  quietly 
turning  over  the  clothes  that  were  lying  on  the  floor. 

"  What  are  you  doing  ?  "  I  asked.  "  What  are  you 
looking  for  ?  ' ' 

"  I  am  looking  for  the  bit  of  paper  from  which  I  saw 
her  take  what  I  supposed  to  be  a  dose  of  medicine  last 
night.  Oh,  here  it  is  !  "  he  cried,  lifting  a  morsel  of 
paper  that,  lying  on  the  floor  under  the  edge  of  the 
bed,  had  hitherto  escaped  his  notice. 


Hannah  281 

"  Let  me  see  !  "  I  anxiously  exclaimed. 

He  handed  me  the  paper,  on  the  inner  surface  of 
which  I  could  dimly  discern  the  traces  of  an  impalpable 
white  powder. 

"  This  is  important,"  I  declared,  carefully  folding 
the  paper  together.  "  If  there  is  enough  of  this  powder 
remaining  to  show  that  the  contents  of  this  paper  were 
poisonous,  the  manner  and  means  of  the  girl's  death 
are  accounted  for,  and  a  case  of  deliberate  suicide  made 
evident." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that,"  he  retorted.  "  If  I  am 
any  judge  of  countenances,  and  I  rather  flatter  myself 
I  am,  this  girl  had  no  more  idea  she  was  taking  poison 
than  I  had.  She  looked  not  only  bright  but  gay  ;  and 
when  she  tipped  up  the  paper,  a  smile  of  almost  silly 
triumph  crossed  her  face.  If  Mrs.  Belden  gave  her 
that  dose  to  take,  telling  her  it  was  medicine — 

"  That  is  something  which  yet  remains  to  be  learned; 
also  whether  the  dose,  as  you  call  it,  was  poisonous  or 
not.  It  may  be  she  died  of  heart  disease." 

He  simply  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  pointed  first 
at  the  plate  of  breakfast  left  on  the  chair,  and  secondly 
at  the  broken-down  door. 

"Yes,"  I  said,  answering  his  look,  "  Mrs.  Belden 
has  been  in  here  this  morning,  and  Mrs.  Beldeu  locked 
the  door  when  she  went  out;  but  that  proves  nothing 
beyond  her  belief  in  the  girl's  hearty  condition." 

"  A  belief  which  that  white  face  on  its  tumbled  pil 
low  did  not  seem  to  shake  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  in  her  haste  she  may  not  have  looked  at 
the  girl,  but  have  set  the  dishes  down  without  more 
than  a  casual  glance  in  her  direction  ?  " 

"  I  don't  want  to  suspect  anything  ivrong,  but  it  is 
such  a  coincidence  !  " 


282  The  Leavenworth  Case 

This  was  touching  me  on  a  sore  point,  and  I  stepped 
back.  "  Well,"  said  I,  "  there  is  no  use  in  our  stand 
ing  here  busying  ourselves  with  conjectures.  There  is 
too  much  to  be  done.  Come!  "  and  I  moved  hurriedly 
towards  the  door. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Have 
you  forgotten  this  is  but  an  episode  in  the  one  great 
mystery  we  are  sent  here  to  unravel  ?  If  this  girl  has 
come  to  her  death  by  some  foul  play,  it  is  our  business 
to  find  it  out." 

"  That  must  be  left  for  the  coroner.  It  has  now 
passed  out  of  our  hands." 

' '  I  know  ;  but  we  can  at  least  take  full  note  of  the 
room  and  everything  in  it  before  throwing  the  affair 
into  the  hands  of  strangers.  Mr.  Gryce  will  expect 
that  much  of  us,  I  am  sure. ' ' 

"  I  have  looked  at  the  room.  The  whole  is  photo 
graphed  on  my  mind.  I  am  only  afraid  I  can  never 
forget  it." 

"  And  the  body  ?  Have  you  noticed  its  position  ? 
the  lay  of  the  bed-clothes  around  it  ?  the  lack  there  is 
of  all  signs  of  struggle  or  fear  ?  the  repose  of  the  coun 
tenance  ?  the  easy  fall  of  the  hands  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  don't  make  me  look  at  it  any  more." 

"  Then  the  clothes  hanging  on  the  wall  ?  " — rapidly 
pointing  out  each  object  as  he  spoke.  "  Do  you  see  ? 
a  calico  dress,  a  shawl, —  not  the  one  in  which  she  was 
believed  to  have  run  away,  but  an  old  black  one,  prob 
ably  belonging  to  Mrs.  Belden.  Then  this  chest,"—- 
opening  it, — "  containing  a  few  underclothes  marked, — 
let  us  see,  ah,  with  the  name  of  the  lady  of  the  house, 
but  smaller  than  any  she  ever  wore  ;  made  for  Hannah, 
you  observe,  and  marked  with  her  own  name  to  prevent 
suspicion.  And  then  these  other  clothes  lying  on  the 


Hannah  283 

floor,  all  new,  all  marked  in  the  same  way.  Then  this 
—  Halloo  !  look  here  !  "  he  suddenly  cried. 

Going  over  to  where  he  stood  I  stooped  down,  when 
a  wash-bowl  half  full  of  burned  paper  met  my  eye. 

"  I  saw  her  bending  over  something  in  this  corner, 
and  could  not  think  what  it  was.  Can  it  be  she  is  a 
suicide  after  all  ?  She  has  evidently  destroyed  some 
thing  here  which  she  did  n't  wish  any  one  to  see." 

"  I  do  not  know,"  I  said.  "  I  could  almost  hope 
so." 

"  Not  a  scrap,  not  a  morsel  left  to  show  what  it  was  ; 
how  unfortunate  ! ' ' 

"  Mrs.  Belden  must  solve  this  riddle,"  I  cried. 

"  Mrs.  Belden  must  solve  the  whole  riddle,"  he  re 
plied;  "  the  secret  of  the  I^eaven worth  murder  hangs 
upon  it."  Then,  with  a  lingering  look  towards  the 
mass  of  burned  paper,  "  Who  knows  but  what  that 
was  a  confession  ?  " 

The  conjecture  seemed  only  too  probable. 

'*  Whatever  it  was,"  said  I,  "  it  is  now  ashes,  and 
we  have  got  to  accept  the  fact  and  make  the  best  of  it." 

"  Yes,"  said  he  with  a  deep  sigh  ;  "  that  's  so;  but 
Mr.  Gryce  will  never  forgive  me  for  it,  never.  He  will 
say  I  ought  to  have  known  it  was  a  suspicious  circum 
stance  for  her  to  take  a  dose  of  medicine  at  the  very 
moment  detection  stood  at  her  bac1*  ' ' 

'*  But  she  did  not  know  that  ;  she  did  not  see  you." 
1  We  don' t  know  what  she  saw,  nor  what  Mrs.  Bel 
den  saw.  Women  are  a  mystery;  and  though  I  flatter 
myself  that  ordinarily  I  am  a  match  for  the  keenest  bit 
of  female  flesh  that  ever  walked,  I  must  say  that  in 
this  case  I  feel  myself  thoroughly  and  shamefully 
worsted." 

"  Well,  well,"  I  said,  "  the  end  has  not  come  yet ; 


284          The  Leavenworth  Case 

who  knows  what  a  talk  with  Mrs.  Belden  will  bring 
out  ?  And,  by  the  way,  she  will  be  coming  back  soon, 
and  I  must  be  ready  to  meet  her.  Everything  depends 
upon  finding  out,  if  I  can,  whether  she  is  aware  of  this 
tragedy  or  not.  It  is  just  possible  she  knows  nothing 
about  it." 

And,  hurrying  him  from  the  room,  I  pulled  the  door 
to  behind  me,  and  led  the  way  down-stairs. 

"  Now,"  said  I,  "  there  is  one  thing  you  must  attend 
to  at  once.  A  telegram  must  be  sent  Mr.  Gryce 
acquainting  him  with  this  unlooked-for  occurrence." 

"  All  right,  sir,"  and  Q  started  for  the  door. 

"  Wait  one  moment,"  said  I.  "I  may  not  have  an 
other  opportunity  to  mention  it.  Mrs.  Belden  received 
two  letters  from  the  postmaster  yesterday  ;  one  in  a 
large  and  one  in  a  small  envelope  ;  if  you  could  find 
out  where  they  were  postmarked " 

Q  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket.  "  I  think  I  will  not 
have  to  go  far  to  find  out  where  one  of  them  came  from. 
Good  George,  I  have  lost  it!  "  And  before  I  knew  it, 
he  had  returned  up-stairs. 

That  moment  I  heard  the  gate  dick. 


XXXI 


•*  Thereby  hangs  a  tale." 

Taming  of  the  Shrew. 

"'  IT  was  all  a  hoax  ;  nobody  was  ill ;  I  have  been 
I  imposed  upon,  meanly  imposed  upon  !  "  And 
Mrs.  Belden,  flushed  and  panting,  entered  the  room 
where  I  was,  and  proceeded  to  take  off  her  bonnet  ; 
but  whilst  doing  so  paused,  and  suddenly  exclaimed  : 
"  What  is  the  matter  ?  How  you  look  at  me  !  Has 
anything  happened  ?  " 

"  Something  very  serious  has  occurred,"  I  replied  ; 
*'  you  have  been  gone  but  a  little  while,  but  in  that 
time  a  discovery  has  been  made — "  I  purposely 
paused  here  that  the  suspense  might  elicit  from  her 
some  betrayal  ;  but,  though  she  turned  pale,  she  mani 
fested  less  emotion  than  I  expected,  and  I  went  on  — • 
"  which  is  likely  to  produce  very  important  conse 
quences." 

To  my  surprise  she  burst  violently  into  tears.  "  I 
knew  it,  I  knew  it  !  "  she  murmured.  "  I  always  said 
it  would  be  impossible  to  keep  it  secret  if  I  let  anybody 
into  the  house  ;  she  is  so  restless.  But  I  forget, ' '  she 
suddenly  said,  with  a  frightened  look  ;  "  you  have  n't 
told  me  what  the  discovery  was.  Perhaps  it  is  n't 

what  I  thought;  perhaps 

285 


286          The  Leavenworth  Case 

I  did  not  hesitate  to  interrupt  her.    "  Mrs.  Belden," 
I  said,    "  I  shall  not  try  to  mitigate  the  blow.     A 
woman  who,  in  the  face  of  the  most  urgent  call  from 
law  and  justice,  can  receive  into  her  house  and  harbor 
there  a  witness  of  such  importance  as  Hannah,  cannot 
stand  in  need  of  any  great   preparation  for  hearing 
that  her  efforts  have  been  too  successful,  that  she  has 
accomplished  her  design  of  suppressing  valuable  testi 
mony,  that  law  and  justice  are  outraged,  and  that  the 
innocent  woman  whom  this  girl's  evidence  might  have 
saved  stands  for  ever  compromised  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world,  if  not  in  those  of  the  officers  of  the  law." 

Her  eyes,  which  had  never  left  me  during  this  ad 
dress,  flashed  wide  with  dismay. 

II  What  do  you  mean?"  she  cried.     "  I  have  in 
tended  no  wrong ;  I  have  only  tried  to  save  people.     I 
—  I  —  But  who  are  you?    What  have  you  got  to  do 
with  all  this  ?    What  is  it  to  you  what  I  do  or  don't 
do  ?    You  said  you  were  a  lawyer.     Can  it  be  you  are 
come  from  Mary  L,eaven worth  to  see  how  I  am  ful 
filling  her  commands,  and- " 

"  Mrs.  Belden,"  I  said,  "it  is  of  small  importance 
now  as  to  who  I  am,  or  for  what  purpose  I  am  here. 
But  that  my  words  may  have  the  more  effect,  I  will 
say,  that  whereas  I  have  not  deceived  you,  either  as  to 
my  name  or  position,  it  is  true  that  I  am  the  friend  of 
the  Misses  Leavenworth,  and  that  anything  which  is 
likely  to  affect  them,  is  of  interest  to  me.  When,  there 
fore,  I  say  that  Eleanore  I^eavenworth  is  irretrievably 

injured  by  this  girl's  death " 

"  Death  ?  What  do  you  mean  ?  Death  !  " 
The  burst  was  too  natural,  the  tone  too  horror- 
stricken  for  me  to  doubt  for  another  moment  as  to  this 
woman's  ignorance  of  the  true  state  of  affairs. 


Hannah  287 

"  Yes,"  I  repeated.  "  the  girl  you  have  been  hiding 
so  long  and  so  well  is  now  beyond  your  control.  Only 
her  dead  body  remains,  Mrs.  Belden." 

I  shall  neve;  lose  from  my  ears  the  shriek  which  she 
uttered,  nor  the  wild,  "  I  don't  believe  it  !  I  don't  be 
lieve  it  !  "  with  which  she  dashed  from  the  room  and 
rushed  up-stairs. 

Nor  that  after-scene  when,  in  the  presence  of  the  dead, 
she  stood  wringing  her  hands  and  protesting,  amid  sobs 
of  the  sincerest  grief  and  terror,  that  she  knew  nothing 
of  it ;  that  she  had  left  the  girl  in  the  best  of  spirits 
the  night  before  ;  that  it  was  true  she  had  locked  her 
in,  but  this  she  always  did  when  any  one  was  in  the 
house  ;  and  that  if  she  died  of  any  sudden  attack,  it 
must  have  been  quietly,  for  she  had  heard  no  stir  all 
night,  though  she  had  listened  more  than  once,  being 
naturally  anxious  lest  the  girl  should  make  some  dis 
turbance  that  would  arouse  me. 

"  But  you  were  in  here  this  morning  ?  "  said  I. 

"  Yes  ;  but  I  did  n't  notice.  I  was  in  a  hurry,  and 
thought  she  was  asleep  ;  so  I  set  the  things  down  where 
she  could  get  them  and  came  right  away,  locking  the 
door  as  usual." 

"  It  is  strange  she  should  have  died  this  night  of  all 
others.  Was  she  ill  yesterday  ?  " 

"No,  sir;  she  was  even  brighter  than  common; 
more  lively.  I  never  thought  of  her  being  sick  then 
or  ever.  If  I  had " 

"  You  never  thought  of  her  being  sick  ?  "  a  voice 
here  interrupted.  "  Why,  then,  did  you  take  such 
pains  to  give  her  a  dose  of  medicine  last  night  ?  "  And 
Q  entered  from  the  room  beyond. 

<c  I  did  n't !  "  she  protested,  evidently  under  the  sup 
position  it  was  I  who  had  spoken.  "  Did  I,  Hannah, 


288          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

did  I,  poor  girl  ?  "  stroking  the  hand  that  lay  in  hers 
with  what  appeared  to  be  genuine  sorrow  and  regret. 

"  How  came  she  by  it,  then  ?  Where  she  did  she 
get  it  if  you  did  n't  give  it  to  her  ?  " 

This  time  she  seemed  to  be  aware  that  some  one  be 
sides  myself  was  talking  to  her,  for,  hurriedly  rising, 
she  looked  at  the  man  with  a  wondering  stare,  before 
replying. 

"  I  don't  know  who  you  are,  sir;  but  I  can  tell  you 
this,  the  girl  had  no  medicine, —  took  no  dose;  she 
was  n't  sick  last  night  that  I  know  of." 

"  Yet  I  saw  her  swallow  a  powder." 

"Saw  her  !  — the  world  is  crazy,  or  I  am  —  saw  her 
swallow  a  powder  !  How  could  you  see  her  do  that  or 
anything  else  ?  Has  n't  she  been  shut  up  in  this  room 
for  twenty-four  hours  ?  " 

' '  Yes  ;  but  with  a  window  like  that  in  the  roof,  it 
is  n'  t  so  very  difficult  to  see  into  the  room,  madam. ' ' 

"  Oh,"  she  cried,  shrinking,  "  I  have  a  spy  in  the 
house,  have  I  ?  But  I  deserve  it ;  I  kept  her  impris 
oned  in  four  close  walls,  and  never  came  to  look  at  her 
once  all  night.  I  don't  complain;  but  what  was  it  }^ou 
say  you  saw  her  take  ?  medicine  ?  poison  ?  ' ' 

"  I  did  n't  say  poison." 

"  But  you  meant  it.  You  think  she  has  poisoned 
herself,  and  that  I  had  a  hand  in  it  !  " 

"  No,"  I  hastened  to  remark,  "  he  does  not  think 
you  had  a  hand  in  it.  He  says  he  saw  the  girl  herself 
swallow  something  which  he  believes  to  have  been  the 
occasion  of  her  death,  and  only  asks  you  now  where 
she  obtained  it." 

"  How  can  I  tell  ?  I  never  gave  her  anything  ; 
did  n't  know  she  had  anything." 

Somehow,  I  believed  her,  and  so  felt  unwilling  to 


Hannah  289 

prolong  the  present  interview,  especially  as  each  mo 
ment  delayed  the  action  which  I  felt  it  incumbent  upon 
us  to  take.  So,  motioning  Q  to  depart  upon  his  errand, 
I  took  Mrs.  Belden  by  the  hand  and  endeavored  to  lead 
her  from  the  room,  But  she  resisted,  sitting  down  by 
the  side  of  the  bed  with  the  expression,  "  I  will  not 
leave  her  again  ;  do  not  ask  it ;  here  is  my  place,  and 
here  I  will  stay,"  while  Q,  obdurate  for  the  first  time, 
stood  staring  severely  upon  us  both,  and  would  not 
move,  though  I  urged  him  again  to  make  haste,  saying 
that  the  morning  was  slipping  away,  and  that  the 
telegram  to  Mr.  Gryce  ought  to  be  sent. 

"  Till  that  woman  leaves  the  room,  I  don't ;  and 
unless  you  promise  to  take  my  place  in  watching  her,  I 
don' t  quit  the  house. ' ' 

Astonished,    I   left  her  side   and   crossed   to   him. 

"  You  carry  your  suspicions  too  far,"  I  whispered, 
"  and  I  think  you  are  too  rude.  We  have  seen  nothing, 
I  am  sure,  to  warrant  us  in  any  such  action ;  besides,  she 
can  do  no  harm  here  ;  though,  as  for  watching  her, 
I  promise  to  do  that  much  if  it  will  relieve  your 
mind." 

"  I  don't  want  her  watched  here  ;  take  her  below.  I 
cannot  leave  while  she  remains." 

"  Are  you  not  assuming  a  trifle  the  master  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  ;  I  don't  know.  If  I  am,  it  is  because  I 
have  something  in  my  possession  which  excuses  my 
conduct." 

"  What  is  that  ?   the  letter  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

Agitated  now  in  my  turn,  I  held  out  my  hand. 
:'  I^et  me  see,"  I  said. 

"  Not  while  that  woman  remains  in  the  room." 

Seeing  him  implacable,  I  returned  to  Mrs.  Belden. 
19 


290          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  I  must  entreat  you  to  come  with  me,"  said  I. 
"  This  is  not  a  common  death  ;  we  shall  be  obliged  to 
have  the  coroner  here  and  others.  You  had  better 
leave  the  room  and  go  below. ' ' 

"  I  don't  mind  the  coroner ;  he  is  a  neighbor  of 
mine  ;  his  coming  won't  prevent  my  watching  over  the 
poor  girl  until  he  arrives." 

"  Mrs.  Belden,"  I  said,  "  your  position  as  the  only 
one  conscious  of  the  presence  of  this  girl  in  your  house 
makes  it  wiser  for  you  not  to  invite  suspicion  by  linger 
ing  any  longer  than  is  necessary  in  the  room  where  her 
dead  body  lies." 

"  As  if  my  neglect  of  her  now  were  the  best  surety 
of  my  good  intentions  towards  her  in  time  past ! ' ' 

"  It  will  not  be  neglect  for  you  to  go  below  with  me 
at  my  earnest  request.  You  can  do  no  good  here  by 
staying;  will,  in  fact,  be  doing  harm.  So  listen  to  me 
or  I  shall  be  obliged  to  leave  you  in  charge  of  this  man 
and  go  myself  to  inform  the  authorities. ' ' 

This  last  argument  seemed  to  affect  her,  for  with  one 
look  of  shuddering  abhorrence  at  Q  she  rose,  saying, 
' '  You  have  me  in  your  power, ' '  and  then,  without  an 
other  word,  threw  her  handkerchief  over  the  girl's  face 
and  left  the  room.  In  two  minutes  more  I  had  the 
letter  of  which  Q  had  spoken  in  my  hands. 

"  It  is  the  only  one  I  could  find,  sir.  It  was  in  the 
pocket  of  the  dress  Mrs.  Belden  had  on  last  night. 
The  other  must  be  lying  around  somewhere,  but  I 
have  n't  had  time  to  find  it.  This  will  do,  though,  I 
think.  You  will  not  ask  for  the  other." 

Scarcely  noticing  at  the  time  with  what  deep  signifi 
cance  he  spoke,  I  opened  the  letter.  It  was  the  smaller 
of  the  two  I  had  seen  her  draw  under  her  shawl  the  day 
before  at  the  post-office,  and  read  as  follows  : 


Hannah  291 


"DEAR,  DEAR 

"  I  am  in  awful  trouble.  You  who  love  me  must  know  it.  I 
cannot  explain,  I  can  only  make  one  prayer.  Destroy  what  you 
have,  to-day,  instantly,  without  question  or  hesitation.  The 
consent  of  any  one  else  has  nothing  to  do  with  it.  You  must 
obey.  I  am  lost  if  you  refuse.  Do  then  what  I  ask,  and  save 

"ONE  WHO  I.O  VES  YOU." 

It  was  addressed  to  Mrs.  Belden  ;  there  was  no  sig 
nature  or  date,  only  the  postmark  New  York  ;  but  I 
knew  the  handwriting.  It  was  M?.ry  Leaven  worth's. 

"  A  damning  letter  !  "  came  in  the  dry  tones  which 
Q  seemed  to  think  fit  to  adopt  on  this  occasion.  "  And 
a  damning  bit  of  evidence  against  the  one  who  wrote 
it,  and  the  woman  who  received  it !  " 

"  A  terrible  piece  of  evidence,  indeed,"  said  I,  "  if 
I  did  not  happen  to  know  that  this  letter  refers  to  the 
destruction  of  something  radically  different  from  what 
you  suspect.  It  alludes  to  some  papers  in  Mrs.  Bel- 
den's  charge  ;  nothing  else." 

"  Are  you  sure,  sir  ?  " 

"  Quite  ;  but  we  will  talk  of  this  hereafter.  It 
is  time  you  sent  your  telegram,  and  went  for  the 
coroner." 

"Very  well,  sir."  And  with  this  we  parted;  he  to 
perform  his  r61e  and  I  mine. 

I  found  Mrs.  Belden  walking  the  floor  below,  bewail 
ing  her  situation,  and  uttering  wild  sentences  as  to  what 
the  neighbors  would  say  of  her;  what  the  minister 
would  chink ;  what  Clara,  whoever  that  was,  would  do, 
and  how  she  wished  she  had  died  before  ever  she  had 
meddled  with  the  affair. 

Succeeding  in  calming  her  after  a  while,  I  induced 
her  to  sit  down  and  listen  to  what  I  had  to  say.  "  You 
will  only  injure  yourself  by  this  display  of  feeling,"  I 


292          The  Leavenworth  Case 

remarked,  "  besides  unfitting  yourself  for  what  you  will 
presently  be  called  upon  to  go  through."  And,  laying 
myself  out  to  comfort  the  unhappy  woman,  I  first  ex 
plained  the  necessities  of  the  case,  and  next  inquired 
if  she  had  no  friend  upon  whom  she  could  call  in  this 
emergency. 

To  my  great  surprise  she  replied  no  ;  that  while  she 
had  kind  neighbors  and  good  friends,  there  was  no  one 
upon  whom  she  could  call  in  a  case  like  this,  either  for 
assistance  or  sympathy,  and  that,  unless  I  would  take 
pity  on  her,  she  would  have  to  meet  it  alone — "  As  I 
have  met  everything,"  she  said,  "  from  Mr.  Belden's 
death  to  the  loss  of  most  of  my  little  savings  in  a 
town  fire  last  year." 

I  was  touched  by  this, — that  she  who,  in  spite  of  her 
weakness  and  inconsistencies  of  character,  possessed  at 
least  the  one  virtue  of  sympathy  with  her  kind,  should 
feel  any  lack  of  friends.  Unhesitatingly,  I  offered  to  do 
what  I  could  for  her,  providing  she  would  treat  me 
with  the  perfect  frankness  which  the  case  demanded. 
To  my  great  relief,  she  expressed  net  only  her  willing 
ness,  but  her  strong  desire,  to  tell  all  she  knew.  "  I 
have  had  enough  secrecy  for  my  whole  life,"  she  said. 
And  indeed  I  do  believe  she  was  so  thoroughly  fright 
ened,  that  if  a  police-officer  had  come  into  the  house 
and  asked  her  to  reveal  secrets  compromising  the  good 
name  of  her  own  son,  she  would  have  done  so  without 
cavil  or  question.  "  I  feel  as  if  I  wanted  to  take  my 
stand  out  on  the  common,  and,  in  the  face  of  the  whole 
world,  declare  what  I  have  done  for  Mary  I^eaven- 
worth.  But  first,"  she  whispered,  "  tell  me,  for  God's 
sake,  how  those  girls  are  situated.  I  have  not  dared 
to  ask  or  write.  The  papers  say  a  good  deal  about 
Eleanore,  but  nothing  about  Mary  ;  and  yet  Mary 


Hannah  293 

writes  of  her  own  peril  only,  and  of  the  danger  she 
would  be  in  if  certain  facts  were  known.  What  is  the 
truth  ?  I  don't  want  to  injure  them,  only  to  take  care 
of  myself. " 

"  Mrs.  Belden,"  I  said,  "  Eleanore  Leaven  worth  has 
got  into  her  present  difficulty  by  not  telling  all  that 
was  required  of  her.  Mary  Leavenworth  —  but  I  can 
not  speak  of  her  till  I  know  what  you  have  to  divulge. 
Her  position,  as  well  as  that  of  her  cousin,  is  too  anom 
alous  for  either  you  or  me  to  discuss.  What  we  want 
to  learn  from  you  is,  how  you  became  connected  with 
this  affair,  and  what  it  was  that  Hannah  knew  which 
caused  her  to  leave  New  York  and  take  refuge 
here." 

But  Mrs.  Belden,  clasping  and  unclasping  her  hands, 
met  my  gaze  with  one  full  of  the  most  apprehensive 
doubt,,  "  You  will  never  believe  me,"  she  cried;  "  but 
I  don't  know  what  Hannah  knew.  I  am  in  utter 
ignorance  of  what  she  saw  or  heard  on  that  fatal  night; 
she  never  told,  and  I  never  asked.  She  merely  said 
that  Miss  Leavenworth  wished  me  to  secrete  her  for  a 
short  time;  and  I,  because  I  loved  Mary  Leavenworth 
and  admired  her  beyond  any  one  I  ever  saw,  weakly 
consented,  and- " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say,"  I  interrupted,  "  that  after 
you  knew  of  the  murder,  you,  at  the  mere  expression 
of  Miss  Leaven  worth's  wishes,  continued  to  keep  this 
girl  concealed  without  asking  her  any  questions  or  de 
manding  any  explanations  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir;  you  will  never  believe  me,  but  it  is  so.  I 
thought  that,  since  Mary  had  sent  her  here,  she  must 
have  her  reasons;  and — and — I  cannot  explain  it  now; 
it  all  looks  so  differently;  but  I  did  do  as  I  have 
said." 


294          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  But  that  was  very  strange  conduct.  You  must 
have  had  strong  reason  for  obeying  Mary  Leavenworth 
so  blindly." 

"  Oh,  sir,"  she  gasped,  "  I  thought  I  understood  it 
all  ;  that  Mary,  the  bright  young  creature,  who  had 
stooped  from  her  lofty  position  to  make  use  of  me  and 
to  love  me,  was  in  some  way  linked  to  the  criminal, 
and  that  it  would  be  better  for  me  to  remain  in  igno 
rance,  do  as  I  was  bid,  and  trust  all  would  come  right. 
I  did  not  reason  about  it  ;  I  only  followed  my  impulse. 
I  could  n't  do  otherwise  ;  it  is  n't  my  nature.  When  I 
am  requested  to  do  anything  for  a  person  I  love,  I 
cannot  refuse." 

"  And  you  love  Mary  Leavenworth;  a  woman  whom 
you  yourself  seem  to  consider  capable  of  a  great 
crime  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  did  n't  say  that ;  I  don't  know  as  I  thought 
that.  She  might  be  in  some  way  connected  with  it, 
without  being  the  actual  perpetrator.  She  could  never 
be  that;  she  is  too  dainty." 

"  Mrs.  Belden,"  I  said,  "  what  do  you  know  of  Mary 
Leavenworth  which  makes  even  that  supposition 
possible  ?" 

The  white  face  of  the  woman  before  me  flushed.  ' '  I 
scarcely  know  what  to  reply,"  she  cried.  "  It  is  a  long 
story,  and — • — " 

"  Never  mind  the  long  story,"  I  interrupted.  "  Let 
me  hear  the  one  vital  reason." 

"  Well,"  said  she,  "  it  is  this;  that  Mary  was  in  an 
emergency  from  which  nothing  but  her  uncle's  deatb 
could  release  her." 

"Ah,  how's  that?" 

But  here  we  were  interrupted  by  the  sound  of  steps 
on  the  porch,  and,  looking  out,  I  saw  Q  entering;  rb*- 


Hannah  295 

house  alone.  Leaving  Mrs.  Belden  where  she  was,  I 
stepped  into  the  hall. 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  what  is  the  matter?  Have  n't 
you  found  the  coroner  ?  Is  n't  he  at  home  ?  " 

"  No,  gone  away;  off  in  a  buggy  to  look  after  a  man 
that  was  found  some  ten  miles  from  here,  lying  in  a 
ditch  beside  a  yoke  of  oxen. ' '  Then,  as  he  saw  my  look 
of  relief,  for  I  was  glad  of  this  temporary  delay,  said, 
with  an  expressive  wink  :  "  It  would  take  a  fellow  a 
long  time  to  go  to  him — if  he  was  n't  in  a  hurry — hours, 
I  think. " 

"  Indeed  ! "  I  returned,  amused  at  his  manner. 
"  Rough  road  ?" 

"  Very  ;  no  horse  /  could  get  could  travel  it  faster 
than  a  walk." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  so  much  the  better  for  us.  Mrs. 
Belden  has  a  long  story  to  tell,  and ' ' 

"  Does  n't  wish  to  be  interrupted.     I  understand." 

I  nodded  and  he  turned  towards  the  door. 

"  Have  you  telegraphed  Mr.  Gryce  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Do  you  think  he  will  come  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  if  he  has  to  hobble  on  two  sticks." 

"  At  what  time  do  you  look  for  him  ?  " 

"  You  will  look  for  him  as  early  as  three  o'clock.  / 
shall  be  among  the  mountains,  ruefully  eying  my 
broken-down  team."  And  leisurely  donning  his  hat 
he  strolled  away  down  the  street  like  one  who  has  the 
whole  day  on  his  hands  and  does  not  know  what  to  do 
with  it. 

An  opportunity  being  thus  given  for  Mrs.  Belden' s 
story,  she  at  once  composed  herself  to  the  task,  with 
the  following  result. 


XXXII 

MRS.  BEI/DEN'S  NARRATIVK 

"  Cursed,  destructive  Avarice, 
Thou  everlasting  foe  to  I^ove  and  Honor." 

Trap's  Abram. 

" Mischief  never  thrives 

Without  the  help  of  Woman." 

The  Same. 

IT  will  be  a  year  rext  July  since  I  first  saw  Mary 
Leavenworth.  I  was  living  at  that  time  a  most 
monotonous  existence.  Loving  what  was  beautiful, 
hating  what  was  sordid,  drawn  by  nature  towards  all 
that  was  romantic  and  uncommon,  but  doomed  by  my 
straitened  position  and  the  loneliness  of  my  widowhood 
to  spend  my  days  in  the  weary  round  of  plain  sewing, 
I  had  begun  to  think  that  the  shadow  of  a  humdrum 
old  age  was  settling  down  upon  me,  when  one  morn 
ing,  in  the  full  tide  of  my  dissatisfaction,  Mary  Leaven- 
worth  stepped  across  the  threshold  of  my  door  and, 
with  one  smile,  changed  the  whole  tenor  of  my  life. 

This  may  seem  exaggeration  to  you,  especially  when 
I  say  that  her  errand  was  simply  one  of  business,  she 
having  heard  I  was  handy  with  my  needle  ;  but  if  you 
could  have  seen  her  as  she  appeared  that  day,  marked 
the  look  with  which  she  approached  me,  and  the  smile 
with  which  she  left,  you  would  pardon  the  folly  of  a 
romantic  old  woman,  who  beheld  a  fairy  queen  in  this 

206 


Hannah  297 

lovely  young  lady.  The  fact  is,  I  was  dazzled  by  her 
beauty  and  her  charms.  And  when,  a  few  days  after, 
she  came  again,  and  crouching  down  on  the  stool  at  my 
feet,  said  she  was  so  tired  of  the  gossip  and  tumult 
down  at  the  hotel,  that  it  was  a  relief  to  run  away  and 
hide  with  some  one  who  would  let  her  act  like  the  child 
she  was,  I  experienced  for  the  moment,  I  believe,  the 
truest  happiness  of  my  life.  Meeting  her  advances 
with  all  the  warmth  her  manner  invited,  I  found  her 
ere  long  listening  eagerly  while  I  told  her,  almost  with 
out  my  own  volition,  the  story  of  my  past  life,  in  the 
form  of  an  amusing  allegory. 

The  next  day  saw  her  in  the  same  place  ;  and  the 
next ;  always  with  the  eager,  laughing  eyes,  and  the 
fluttering,  uneasy  hands,  that  grasped  everything  they 
touched,  and  broke  everything  they  grasped. 

But  the  fourth  day  she  was  not  there,  nor  the  fifth, 
nor  the  sixth,  and  I  was  beginning  to  feel  the  old 
shadow  settling  back  upon  me,  when  one  night,  just  as 
the  dusk  of  twilight  was  merging  into  evening  gloom, 
she  came  stealing  in  at  the  front  door,  and,  creeping  up 
to  my  side,  put  her  hands  over  my  eyes  with  such  a 
low,  ringing  laugh,  that  I  started. 

1  You  don't  know  what  to  make  of  me  !  "  she  cried, 
throwing  aside  her  cloak,  and  revealing  herself  in  the 
full  splendor  of  evening  attire.  "  I  don't  know  what 
to  make  of  myself.  Though  it  seems  folly,  I  felt  that  I 
must  run  away  and  tell  some  one  that  a  certain  pair  of 
eyes  have  been  looking  into  mine,  and  that  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life  I  feel  myself  a  woman  as  well  as  a 
queen."  And  with  a  glance  in  which  coyness  strug 
gled  with  pride,  she  gathered  up  her  cloak  around  her, 
and  laughingly  cried  : 

"  Have  you  had  a  visit  from  a  flying  sprite?    Has 


298          The  Leavenworth  Case 

one  little  ray  of  moonlight  found  its  way  into  your 
prison  for  a  wee  moment,  with  Mary's  laugh  and 
Mary's  snowy  silk  and  flashing  diamonds?  Say!" 
and  she  patted  my  cheek,  and  smiled  so  bewilderingly, 
that  even  now,  with  all  the  dull  horror  of  these  after- 
events  crowding  upon  me,  I  cannot  but  feel  something 
like  tears  spring  to  my  eyes  at  the  thought  of  it. 

"  And  so  the  Prince  has  come  for  you?  "  I  whis 
pered,  alluding  to  a  story  I  had  told  her  the  last  time 
she  had  visited  me  ;  a  story  in  which  a  girl,  who  had 
waited  all  her  life  in  rags  and  degradation  for  the  lordly 
knight  who  was  to  raise  her  from  a  hovel  to  a  throne, 
died  just  as  her  one  lover,  an  honest  peasant-lad  whom 
she  had  discarded  in  her  pride,  arrived  at  her  door  with 
the  fortune  he  had  spent  all  his  days  in  amassing  for 
her  sake. 

But  at  this  she  flushed,  and  drew  back  towards  the 
door.  "  I  don't  know  ;  I  am  afraid  not.  I  —  I  don't 
think  anything  about  that.  Princes  are  not  so  easily 
won, ' '  she  murmured. 

[<  What  !  are  you  going  ?  "  I  said,  "  and  alone  ?  Let 
me  accompany  you." 

But  she  only  shook  her  fairy  head,  and  replied  : 
"  No,  no  ;  that  would  be  spoiling  the  romance,  indeed. 
I  have  come  upon  you  like  a  sprite,  and  like  a  sprite  I 
will  go."  And,  flashing  like  the  moonbeam  she  was, 
she  glided  out  into  the  night,  and  floated  away  down 
the  street. 

When  she  next  came,  I  observed  a  feverish  excite 
ment  in  her  manner,  which  assured  me,  even  plainer 
than  the  coy  sweetness  displayed  in  our  last  interview, 
that  her  heart  had  been  touched  by  her  lover's  atten 
tions.  Indeed,  she  hinted  as  much  before  she  left,  say 
ing  in  a  melancholy  tone,  when  I  had  ended  niy  story 


Hannah  299 

in  the  usual  happy  way,  with  kisses  and  marriage,  "  I 
shall  never  marry  !  "  finishing  the  exclamation  with  a 
long-drawn  sigh,  that  somehow  emboldened  me  to  say, 
perhaps  because  I  knew  she  had  no  mother  : 

"And  why?  What  reason  can  there  be  for  such 
rosy  lips  saying  their  possessor  will  never  marry  ?  " 

She  gave  me  one  quick  look,  and  then  dropped  her 
eyes.  I  feared  I  had  offended  her,  and  was  feeling 
very  humble,  when  she  suddenly  replied,  in  an  even  but 
low  tone,  "  I  said  I  should  never  marry,  because  the 
one  man  who  pleases  me  can  never  be  my  husband." 

All  the  hidden  romance  in  my  nature  started  at  once 
into  life.  "  Why  not  ?  What  do  you  mean  ?  Tell  me." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  tell,"  said  she  ;  "  only  I  have 
been  so  weak  as  to  "  — she  would  not  say,  fall  in  love, 
she  was  a  proud  woman — "  admire  a  man  whom  my 
uncle  will  never  allow  me  to  marry." 

And  she  rose  as  if  to  go;  but  I  drew  her  back. 
"  Whom  your  uncle  will  not  allow  you  to  marry  !  "  I 
repeated.  "  Why  ?  because  he  is  poor  ?  " 

' '  No  ;  uncle  loves  money,  but  not  to  such  an  extent 
as  that.  Besides,  Mr.  Clavering  is  not  poor.  He  is 
the  owner  of  a  beautiful  place  in  his  own  country " 

"Own  country?"  I  interrupted.  "Is  he  not  an 
American  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  returned  ;  "  he  is  an  Englishman." 

I  did  not  see  why  she  need  say  that  in  just  the  way 
she  did,  but,  supposing  she  was  aggravated  by  some 
secret  memory,  went  on  to  inquire  :  "  Then  what  diffi 
culty  can  there  be  ?  Is  n't  he — "  I  was  going  to  say 
steady,  but  refrained. 

"  He  is  an  Englishman,"  she  emphasized  in  the  same 
bitter  tone  as  before.  "  In  saying  that,  I  say  it  all. 
Uncle  will  never  let  me  marry  an  Englishman," 


300          The  Leavenworth  Case 

I  looked  at  her  in  amazement.     Such  a  puerile  reason 
as  this  had  never  entered  my  mind. 

"  He  has  an  absolute  mania  on  the  subject,"  resumed 
she.  ' '  I  might  as  well  ask  him  to  allow  me  to  drown 
myself  as  to  marry  an  Englishman." 

A  woman  of  truer  judgment  than  myself  would  have 
said  :  "  Then,  if  that  is  so,  why  not  discard  from  your 
breast  all  thought  of  him  ?  Why  dance  with  him,  and 
talk  to  him,  and  let  your  admiration  develop  into 
love  ?  "  But  I  was  all  romance  then,  and,  angry  at  a 
prejudice  I  could  neither  understand  nor  appreciate,  I 
said  : 

"  But  that  is  mere  tyranny  !  Why  should  he  hate 
the  English  so  ?  And  why,  if  he  does,  should  you  feel 
yourself  obliged  to  gratify  him  in  a  whim  so  unreason 
able  ?  " 

"  Why  ?  Shall  I  tell  you,  auntie  ?  "  she  said,  flush 
ing  and  looking  away. 

"  Yes,"  I  returned  ;  "  tell  me  everything." 

II  Well,  then,  if  you  want  to  know  the  worst  of  me, 
as  you  already  know  the  best,   I  hate  to  incur  my 
uncle's  displeasure,  because — because — I  have  always 
been  brought  up  to  regard  myself  as  his  heiress,  and  I 
know  that  if  I  were  to  marry  contrary  to  his  wishes,  he 
would    instantly    change    his    mind,    and    leave    me 
penniless." 

"  But,"  I  cried,  my  romance  a  little  dampened  by 
this  admission,  "  you  tell  me  Mr.  Clavering  has  enough 
to  live  upon,  so  you  would  not  want ;  and  if  you 
love " 

Her  violet  eyes  fairly  flashed  in  her  amazement. 

"  You  don't  understand,"  she  said;  "  Mr.  Clavering 
is  not  poor;  but  uncle  is  rich.     I  shall  be  a  queen  — 
There  she  paused,  trembling,  and  falling  on  my  breast 


Hannah  301 

**  Oh,  it  sounds  mercenary,  I  know,  but  It  is  the  fault 
of  my  bringing  up.  I  have  been  taught  to  worship 
money.  I  would  be  utterly  lost  without  it.  And 
yet " — her  whole  face  softening  with  the  light  of  an 
other  emotion,  ".I  cannot  say  to  Henry  Clavering, 
1  Go  !  my  prospects  are  dearer  to  me  than  you  ! '  I 
cannot,  oh,  I  cannot  ! ' ' 

"  You  love  him,  then  ?  "  said  I,  determined  to  get  at 
the  truth  of  the  matter  if  possible. 

She  rose  restlessly.  *  *  Is  n'  t  that  a  proof  of  love  ?  If 
you  knew  me,  you  would  say  it  was."  And,  turning, 
she  took  her  stand  before  a  picture  that  hung  on  the 
wall  of  my  sitting-room. 

11  That  looks  like  me,"  she  said. 

It  was  one  of  a  pair  of  good  photographs  I  possessed. 

"  Yes,"  I  remarked,  "  that  is  why  I  prize  it." 

She  did  not  seem  to  hear  me  ;  she  was  absorbed  in 
gazing  at  the  exquisite  face  before  her.  "  That  is  a 
winning  face,"  I  heard  her  say.  "  Sweeter  than  mine. 
I  wonder  if  she  would  ever  hesitate  between  love  and 
money.  I  do  not  believe  she  would,"  her  own  counte 
nance  growing  gloomy  and  sad  as  she  said  so  ;  "  she 
would  think  only  of  the  happiness  she  would  confer ; 
she  is  not  hard  like  me.  Eleanore  herself  would  love 
this  girl." 

I  think  she  had  forgotten  my  presence,  for  at  the 
mention  of  her  cousin's  name  she  turned  quickly 
round  with  a  half  suspicious  look,  saying  lightly  : 

"  My  dear  old  Mamma  Hubbard  looks  horrified. 
She  did  not  know  she  had  such  a  very  unromantic  little 
wretch  for  a  listener,  when  she  was  telling  all  those 
wonderful  stones  of  Love  slaying  dragons,  and  living 
in  caves,  and  walking  over  burning  ploughshares  as  if 
they  were  tufts  of  spring  grass  ?  " 


302          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  No,' '  I  said,  taking  her  with  an  irresistible 
of  admiring  affection  into  my  arms;  "  but  if  I  had,  it 
would  have  made  no  difference.  I  should  still  have 
talked  about  love,  and  of  all  it  can  do  to  make  this 
weary  workaday  world  sweet  and  delightful." 

"  Would  you  ?  Then  you  do  not  think  me  such  a 
wretch  ?  " 

What  could  I  say  ?  I  thought  her  the  winsomest 
being  in  the  world,  and  frankly  told  her  so.  Instantly 
she  brightened  into  her  very  gayest  self.  Not  that  I 
thought  then,  much  less  do  I  think  now,  she  particu 
larly  cared  for  my  good  opinion  ;  but  her  nature 
demanded  admiration,  and  unconsciously  blossomed 
under  it,  as  a  flower  under  the  sunshine. 

"  And  you  will  still  let  me  come  and  tell  you  how  bad 
I  am, — that  is,  if  I  go  on  being  bad,  as  I  doubtless  shall 
to  the  end  of  the  chapter  ?  You  will  not  turn  me  off  ?  " 

"  I  will  never  turn  you  off." 

"  Not  if  I  should  do  a  dreadful  thing?  Not  if  I 
should  run  away  with  my  lover  some  fine  night,  and 
leave  uncle  to  discover  how  his  affectionate  partiality 
had  been  requited  ?  " 

It  was  lightly  said,  and  lightly  meant,  for  she  did 
not  even  wait  for  my  reply.  But  its  seed  sank  deep 
into  our  two  hearts  for  all  that.  And  for  the  next  few 
days  I  spent  my  time  in  planning  how  I  should  man 
age,  if  it  should  ever  fall  to  my  lot  to  conduct  to  a  suc 
cessful  issue  so  enthralling  a  piece  of  business  as  an 
elopement.  You  may  imagine,  then,  how  delighted  I 
was,  when  one  evening  Hannah,  this  unhappy  girl  who 
is  now  lying  dead  under  my  roof,  and  who  was  occupy 
ing  the  position  of  lady's  maid  to  Miss  Mary  Leaven- 
worth  at  that  time,  came  to  my  door  with  a  note  froaj 
her  mistress,  running  thus  : 


Hannah  303 

"Have  the  loveliest  story  of  the  season  ready  for  me  to 
morrow  ;  and  let  the  prince  be  as  handsome  as — as  some  one 
you  have  heard  of,  and  the  princess  as  foolish  as  your  little 
yielding  pet, 

"MARY." 

Which  short  note  could  only  mean  that  she  was  en 
gaged.  But  the  next  day  did  not  bring  me  my  Mary, 
nor  the  next,  nor  the  next ;  and  beyond  hearing  that 
Mr.  Leavenworth  had  returned  from  his  trip  I  received 
neither  word  nor  token.  Two  more  days  dragged  by, 
when,  just  as  twilight  set  in,  she  came.  It  had  been  a 
Week  since  I  had  seen  her,  but  it  might  have  been  a 
year  from  the  change  I  observed  in  her  countenance 
and  expression.  I  could  scarcely  greet  her  with  any 
show  of  pleasure,  she  was  so  unlike  her  former  self. 

"  You  are  disappointed,  are  you  not  ?  "  said  she,  look 
ing  at  me.  "  You  expected  revelations,  whispered 
hopes,  and  all  manner  of  sweet  confidences;  and  you 
see,  instead,  a  cold,  bitter  woman,  who  for  the  first  time 
in  your  presence  feels  inclined  to  be  reserved  and  un 
communicative." 

"  That  is  because  you  have  had  more  to  trouble  than 
encourage  you  in  your  love,"  I  returned,  though  not 
without  a  certain  shrinking,  caused  more  by  her  manner 
than  words. 

She  did  not  reply  to  this,  but  rose  and  paced  the 
floor,  coldly  at  first,  but  afterwards  with  a  certain  degree 
of  excitement  that  proved  to  be  the  prelude  to  a  change? 
in  her  manner;  for,  suddenly  pausing,  she  turned  to 

me  and  said  :    "  Mr.  Clavering  has  left  R ,  Mrs. 

Belden." 

"Left!" 

"  Yes,  my  uncle  commanded  me  to  dismiss  him,  and 
I  obeyed." 


304          The  Leavenworth  Case 

The  work  dropped  from  my  hands,  in  my  heartfelt 
disappointment.  c '  Ah !  then  he  knows  of  your  engage 
ment  to  Mr.  Clavering  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  he  had  not  been  in  the  house  five  minutes 
before  Eleanor e  told  him." 

"  Then  she  knew?" 

"  Yes,"  with  a  half  sigh.  "  She  could  hardly  help 
it.  I  was  foolish  enough  to  give  her  the  cue  in  my  first 
moment  of  joy  and  weakness.  I  did  not  think  of  the 
consequences  ;  but  I  might  have  known.  She  is  so 
conscientious." 

"  I  do  not  call  it  conscientiousness  to  tell  another's 
secrets,"  I  returned. 

"  That  is  because  you  are  not  Eleanore." 

Not  having  a  reply  for  this,  I  said,  "  And  so  your 
uncle  did  not  regard  your  engagement  with  favor  ?  " 

* '  Favor  !  Did  I  not  tell  you  he  would  never  allow 
me  to  marry  an  Englishman  ?  He  said  he  would  sooner 
see  me  buried." 

' '  And  you  yielded  ?  Made  no  struggle  ?  Let  the 
hard,  cruel  man  have  his  way  ?  " 

She  was  walking  off  to  look  again  at  that  picture 
which  had  attracted  her  attention  the  time  before,  but 
at  this  word  gave  me  one  little  sidelong  look  that  was 
inexpressibly  suggestive. 

4  *  I  obeyed  him  when  he  commanded,  if  that  is  what 
you  mean.". 

"  And  dismissed  Mr.  Clavering  after  having  given 
him  your  word  of  honor  to  be  his  wife  ?  " 

"  Why  not,  when  I  found  I  could  not  keep  my  word." 

"  Then  you  have  decided  not  to  marry  him  ?  " 

She  did  not  reply  at  once,  but  lifted  her  face  mechani 
cally  to  the  picture. 

' '  My  uncle  would  tell  you  that  I  had  decided  to  be 


Hannah  3°5 

governed  wholly  by  his  wishes,'*  she  responded  at  last 
with  what  I  felt  was  self-scornful  bitterness. 

Greatly  disappointed,  I  burst  into  tears.  "  Oh,  Mary!  " 
I  cried,  "  Oh,  Mary!  "  and  instantly  blushed,  startled 
that  I  had  called  her  by  her  first  name. 

But  she  did  not  appear  to  notice. 

*  *  Have  you  any  complaint  to  make  ?  "  she  asked.  *  *  Is 
it  not  my  manifest  duty  to  be  governed  by  my  uncle's 
wishes  ?  Has  he  not  brought  me  up  from  childhood  ? 
lavished  every  luxury  upon  me  ?  made  me  all  I  am, 
even  to  the  love  of  riches  which  he  has  instilled  into 
my  soul  with  every  gift  he  has  thrown  into  my  lap, 
every  word  he  has  dropped  into  niy  ear,  since  I  was  old 
enough  to  know  what  riches  meant  ?  Is  it  for  me  now 
to  turn  my  back  upon  fostering  care  so  wise,  beneficent, 
and  free,  just  because  a  man  whom  I  have  known  some 
two  weeks  chances  to  offer  me  in  exchange  what  he 
pleases  to  call  his  love  ?  " 

"  But,"  I  feebly  essayed,  convinced  perhaps  by  the 
tone  of  sarcasm  in  which  this  was  uttered  that  she  was 
not  far  from  my  way  of  thinking  after  all,  "  if  in  two 
weeks  you  have  learned  to  love  this  man  more  than 
everything  else,  even  the  riches  which  make  your 
uncle's  favor  a  thing  of  such  moment " 

"  Well,"  said  she,  "  what  then  ?  " 

'*  Why,  then  I  would  say,  secure  your  happiness  with 
the  man  of  your  choice,  if  you  have  to  marry  him  in 
secret,  trusting  to  your  influence  over  your  uncle  to 
win  the  forgiveness  he  never  can  persistently  deny." 

You  should  have  seen  the  arch  expression  which  stole 
across  her  face  at  that.  "  Would  it  not  be  better,"  she 
asked,  creeping  to  my  arms,  and  laying  her  head  on  my 
shoulder,  "  would  it  not  be  better  for  me  to  make  sure 
of  that  uncle's  favor  first,  before  undertaking  the 


306          The  Leavenworth  Case 

hazardous  experiment  of  running  away  with  a  too 
ardent  lover  ?  ' ' 

Struck  by  her  manner,  I  lifted  her  face  and  looked 
at  it.  It  was  one  amused  smile. 

"  Oh,  my  darling,"  said  I,  "  you  have  not,  then 
dismissed  Mr.  Clavering  ?  " 

'  *  I  have  sent  him  away, ' '  she  whispered  demurely. 

"  But  not  without  hope  ?  " 

She  burst  into  a  ringing  laugh. 

'  *  Oh,  you  dear  old  Mamma  Hubbard ;  what  a  match 
maker  you  are,  to  be  sure  !  You  appear  as  much  inter 
ested  as  if  you  were  the  lover  yourself. ' ' 

"  But  tell  me,"  I  urged. 

In  a  moment  her  serious  mood  returned.  * '  He  will 
wait  for  me,"  said  she. 

The  next  day  I  submitted  to  her  the  plan  I  had 
formed  for  her  clandestine  intercourse  with  Mr.  Claver 
ing.  It  was  for  them  both  to  assume  names,  she  taking 
mine,  as  one  less  liable  to  provoke  conjecture  than  a 
strange  name,  and  he  that  of  LeRoy  Robbins.  The 
plan  pleased  her,  and  with  the  slight  modification  of  a 
secret  sign  being  used  on  the  envelope,  to  distinguish 
her  letters  from  mine,  was  at  once  adopted. 

And  so  it  was  I  took  the  fatal  step  that  has  involved 
me  in  all  this  trouble.  With  the  gift  of  my  name  to 
this  young  girl  to  use  as  she  would  and  sign  what  she 
would,  I  seemed  to  part  with  what  was  left  me  of  judg 
ment  and  discretion.  Henceforth,  I  was  only  her 
scheming,  planning,  devoted  slave  ;  now  copying  the 
letters  which  she  brought  me,  and  enclosing  them  to 
the  false  name  we  had  agreed  upon,  and  now  busying 
myself  in  devising  ways  to  forward  to  her  those  which  I 
received  from  him,  without  risk  of  discovery.  Hannah 


Hannah  3°? 

was  the  medium  we  employed,  as  Mary  felt  it 
would  not  be  wise  for  her  to  come  too  often  to  my 
house.  To  this  girl's  charge,  then,  I  gave  such  notes 
as  I  could  not  forward  in  any  other  way,  secure  in  the 
reticence  of  her  nature,  as  well  as  in  her  inability  to 
read,  that  these  letters  addressed  to  Mrs.  Amy  Belden 
would  arrive  at  their  proper  destination  without  mis 
hap.  And  I  believe  they  always  did.  At  all  events,  no 
difficulty  that  I  ever  heard  of  arose  out  of  the  use  of 
this  girl  as  a  go-between. 

But  a  change  was  at  hand.  Mr.  Clavering,  who  had 
left  an  invalid  mother  in  England,  was  suddenly  sum 
moned  home.  He  prepared  to  go,  but,  flushed  with 
love,  distracted  by  doubts,  smitten  with  the  fear  that, 
once  withdrawn  from  the  neighborhood  of  a  woman  so 
universally  courted  as  Mary,  he  would  stand  small 
chance  of  retaining  his  position  in  her  regard,  he  wrote 
to  her,  telling  his  fears  and  asking  her  to  marry  him 
before  he  went. 

"  Make  me  your  husband,  and  I  will  follow  your 
wishes  in  all  things,"  he  wrote.  "  The  certainty  that 
you  are  mine  will  make  parting  possible;  without  it,  I 
cannot  go;  no,  not  if  my  mother  should  die  without  the 
comfort  of  saying  good-bye  to  her  only  child." 

By  some  chance  she  was  in  my  house  when  I  brought 
this  letter  from  the  post-office,  and  I  shall  never  forget 
how  she  started  when  she  read  it.  But,  from  looking 
as  if  she  had  received  an  insult,  she  speedily  settled 
down  into  a  calm  consideration  of  the  subject,  writing 
ind  delivering  into  my  charge  for  copying  a  few  lines 
n  which  she  promised  to  accede  to  his  request,  if  he 
would  agree  to  leave  the  public  declaration  of  the  mar 
riage  to  her  discretion,  and  consent  to  bid  her  farewell 
at  the  door  of  the  church  or  wherever  the  ceremony  of 


308          The  Leavenworth  Case 

marriage  should  take  place,  never  to  come  into  hef 
presence  again  till  such  declaration  had  been  made. 
Of  course  this  brought  in  a  couple  of  days  the  sure  re 
sponse  :  "  Anything,  so  you  will  be  mine." 

And  Amy  Belden's  wits  and  powers  of  planning  were 
all  summoned  into  requisition  for  the  second  time,  to 
devise  how  this  matter  could  be  arranged  without  sub 
jecting  the  parties  to  the  chance  of  detection.  I  found 
the  thing  very  difficult.  In  the  first  place,  it  was  essen 
tial  that  the  marriage  should  come  off  within  three 
days,  Mr.  Clavering  having,  upon  the  receipt  of  her 
letter,  secured  his  passage  upon  a  steamer  that  sailed  on 
the  following  Saturday  ;  and,  next,  both  he  and  Miss 
lyeavenworth  were  too  conspicuous  in  their  personal 
appearance  to  make  it  at  all  possible  for  them  to  be 
secretly  married  anywhere  within  gossiping  distance 
of  this  place.  And  yet  it  was  desirable  that  the  scene 
of  the  ceremony  should  not  be  too  far  away,  or  the  time 
occupied  in  effecting  the  journey  to  and  from  the  place 
would  necessitate  an  absence  from  the  hotel  on  the  part 
of  Miss  Leavenworth  long  enough  to  arouse  the  suspi 
cions  of  Eleanore  ;  something  which  Mary  felt  it  wiser 
to  avoid.  Her  uncle,  I  have  forgotten  to  say,  was  not 
here  —  having  gone  away  again  shortly  after  the  ap- 

, parent  dismissal  of  Mr.  Clavering.     F ,  then,  was 

the  only  town  I  could  think  of  which  combined  the 
two  advantages  of  distance  and  accessibility.  Although 
upon  the  railroad,  it  was  an  insignificant  place,  and  had, 
what  was  better  yet,  a  very  obscure  man  for  its  clergy 
man,  living,  which  was  best  of  all,  not  ten  rods  from 
the  depot.  If  they  could  meet  there  ?  Making  in 
quiries,  I  found  that  it  could  be  done,  and,  all  alive  to 
the  romance  of  the  occasion,  proceeded  to  plan  the 
details. 


Hannah  309 

And  now  I  am  coming  to  what  might  have  caused 
the  overthrow  of  the  whole  scheme :  I  allude  to  the  de 
tection  on  the  part  of  Eleanore  of  the  correspondence 
between  Mary  and  Mr.  Clavering.  It  happened  thus. 
Hannah,  who,  in  her  frequent  visits  to  my  house,  had 
grown  very  fond  of  my  society,  had  come  in  to  sit  with 
me  for  a  while  one  evening.  She  had  not  been  in  the 
house,  however,  more  than  ten  minutes,  before  there 
came  a  knock  at  the  front  door,  and  going  to  it  I  saw 
Mary,  as  I  supposed,  from  the  long  cloak  she  wore, 
standing  before  me.  Thinking  she  had  come  with  a 
letter  for  Mr.  Clavering,  I  grasped  her  arm  and  drew 
her  into  the  hall,  saying,  "  Have  you  got  it  ?  I  must 
post  it  to-night,  or  he  will  not  receive  it  in  time. ' ' 

There  I  paused,  for,  the  panting  creature  I  had  by  the 
arm  turning  upon  me,  I  saw  myself  confronted  by  a 
stranger. 

"  You  have  made  a  mistake, "  she  cried.  "  I  am 
Eleanore  Leavenworth,  and  I  have  come  for  my  girl 
Hannah.  Is  she  here  ?  " 

I  could  only  raise  my  hand  in  apprehension,  and 
point  to  the  girl  sitting  in  the  corner  of  the  room  before 
her.  Miss  Leavenworth  immediately  turned  back. 

<:  Hannah,  I  want  you,"  said  she,  and  would  have 
left  the  house  without  another  word,  but  I  caught  her 
by  the  arm. 

"  Oh,  miss — "  I  began,  but  she  gave  me  such  a  look, 
I  dropped  her  arm. 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say  to  you  !  "  she  cried  in  a  low, 
thrilling  voice.  "  Do  not  detain  me."  And,  with  a 
glance  to  see  if  Hannah  were  following  her,  she  went 
out. 

For  an  hour  I  sat  crouched  on  the  stair  just  where 
she  had  left  me.  Then  I  went  to  bed,  but  I  did  not 


310          The  Leavenworth  Case 

sleep  a  wink  that  night.  You  can  imagine,  then,  my 
wonder  when,  with  the  first  glow  of  the  early  morning 
light,  Mary,  looking  more  beautiful  than  ever,  carne 
running  up  the  steps  and  into  the  room  where  I  was, 
with  the  letter  for  Mr.  Clavering  trembling  in  her  hand. 

"  Oh  !  "  I  cried  in  my  joy  and  relief,  "  did  n't  she 
understand  me,  then  ?  " 

The  gay  look  on  Mary's  face  turned  to  one  of  reck 
less  scorn.  "  If  you  mean  Eleanore,  yes.  She  is  duly 
initiated,  Mamma  Hubbard.  Knows  that  I  love  Mr. 
Clavering  and  write  to  him.  I  could  n't  keep  it  secret 
after  the  mistake  you  made  last  evening;  so  I  did  the 
next  best  thing,  told  her  the  truth." 

*  *  Not  that  you  were  about  to  be  married  ?  ' ' 

1 '  Certainly  not.  I  don't  believe  in  unnecessary  com 
munications." 

1  'And  you  did  not  find  her  as  angry  as  you  expected  ?" 

"  I  will  not  say  that  ;  she  was  angry  enough.  And 
yet,"  continued  Mary,  with  a  burst  of  self-scornful 
penitence,  "  I  will  not  call  Eleanore's  lofty  indignation 
anger.  She  was  grieved,  Mamma  Hubbard,  grieved." 
And  with  a  laugh  which  I  believe  was  rather  the  result 
of  her  own  relief  than  of  any  wish  to  reflect  on  her 
cousin,  she  threw  her  head  on  one  side  and  eyed  me 
with  a  look  which  seemed  to  say,  "  Do  I  plague  you 
so  very  much,  you  dear  old  Mamma  Hubbard  ?  " 

She  did  plague  me,  and  I  could  not  conceal  it.  "  And 
will  she  not  tell  her  uncle  ?  "  I  gasped. 

The  naive  expression  on  Mary's  face  quickly  changed* 
"  No,"  said  she. 

I  felt  a  heavy  hand,  hot  with  fever,  lifted  from  my 
heart.  "  And  we  can  still  go  on  ?  " 

She  held  out  the  letter  for  reply. 

The  plan  agreed  upon  between  us  for  the  carrying 


Hannah  311 

out  of  our  intentions  was  this.  At  the  time  appointed, 
Mary  was  to  excuse  herself  to  her  cousin  upon  the  plea 
that  she  had  promised  to  take  me  to  see  a  friend  in  the 
next  town.  She  was  then  to  enter  a  buggy  previously 
ordered,  and  drive  here,  where  I  was  to  join  her.  We 
were  then  to  proceed  immediately  to  the  minister's 

house  in  F ,  where  we  had  reason  to  believe  we 

should  find  everything  prepared  for  us.  But  in  this 
plan,  simple  as  it  was,  one  thing  was  forgotten,  and 
that  was  the  character  of  Eleanore's  love  for  her  cousin. 
That  her  suspicions  would  be  aroused  we  did  not  doubt; 
but  that  she  would  actually  follow  Mary  up  and  demand 
an  explanation  of  her  conduct,  was  what  neither  she, 
who  knew  her  so  well,  nor  I,  who  knew  her  so  little, 
ever  imagined  possible.  And  yet  that  was  just  what 
occurred.  But  let  me  explain.  Mary,  who  had  fol* 
lowed  out  the  programme  to  the  point  of  leaving  a  little 
note  of  excuse  on  Eleanore's  dressing-table,  had  come 
to  my  house,  and  was  just  taking  off  her  long  cloak  to 
show  me  her  dress,  when  there  came  a  commanding 
knock  at  the  front  dooi^  Hastily  pulling  her  cloak 
about  her  I  ran  to  open  it,  intending,  you  may  be  sure, 
to  dismiss  my  visitor  with  short  ceremony,  when  I  heard 
a  voice  behind  me  say,  "  Good  heavens,  it  is  Elea- 
nore!  "  and,  glancing  back,  saw  Mary  looking  through 
the  window-blind  upon  the  porch  without. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  I  cried,  in  very  natural 
dismay. 

' '  Do  ?  why,  open  the  door  and  let  her  in  ;  I  am  not 
afraid  of  Eleanore." 

I  immediately  did  so,  and  Eleanore  Leavenworth, 
very  pale,  but  with  a  resolute  countenance,  walked  into 
the  house  and  into  this  room,  confronting  Mary  in  very 
nearly  the  same  spot  where  you  are  now  sitting.  ' '  I 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


have  come,"  said  she,  lifting  a  face  whose  expression 
of  mingled  sweetness  and  power  I  could  not  but  admire, 
even  in  that  moment  of  apprehension,  "  to  ask  you 
without  any  excuse  for  my  request,  if  you  will  allow 
me  to  accompany  you  upon  your  drive  this  morning  ?  " 

Mary,  who  had  drawn  herself  up  to  meet  some  word 
of  accusation  or  appeal,  turned  carelessly  away  to  the 
glass.  "  I  am  very  sorry,"  she  said,  "  but  the  buggy 
holds  only  two,  and  I  shall  be  obliged  to  refuse.  '  ' 

"  I  will  order  a  carriage." 

"  But  I  do  not  wish  your  company,  Kleanore.  We 
are  off  on  a  pleasure  trip,  and  desire  to  have  our  fun  by 
ourselves." 

1  *  And  you  will  not  allow  me  to  accompany  you  ?  '  ' 

'  '  I  cannot  prevent  your  going  in  another  carriage.  '  ' 

Eleanore's  face  grew  yet  more  earnest  in  its  expres 
sion.  "  Mary,"  said  she,  "  we  have  been  brought  up 
together.  I  am  your  sister  in  affection  if  not  in  blood, 
and  I  cannot  see  you  start  upon  this  adventure  with  no 
other  companion  than  this  woman.  Then  tell  me,  shall 
I  go  with  you,  as  a  sister,  or  on  the  road  behind  you  as 
the  enforced  guardian  of  your  honor  against  your 
will?" 

"My  honor?" 

"  You  are  going  to  meet  Mr.  Clavering." 

"  Well?" 

"  Twenty  miles  from  home." 

"Well?" 

"  Now  is  it  discreet  or  honorable  in  you  to  do  this  ?  " 

Mary's  haughty  lip  took  an  ominous  curve.  "  The 
same  hand  that  raised  you  has  raised  me,"  she  cried 
bitterly. 

'  *  This  is  no  time  to  speak  of  that,  '  '  returned  Eleanore. 

Mary's  countenance  flushed.     All  the  antagonism  of 


Hannah  3r3 

her  nature  was  aroused.  She  looked  absolutely  Juno- 
like  in  her  wrath  and  reckless  menace.  "  Eleanore," 

she  cried,  "  I  am  going  to  F to  marry  Mr.  Clave- 

ring  !  Now  do  you  wish  to  accompany  me  ?  " 

"I  do." 

Mary's  whole  manner  changed.  Leaping  forward, 
she  grasped  her  cousin's  arm  and  shook  it.  ' '  For  what 
reason  ?  "  she  cried.  "  What  do  you  intend  to  do  ?  " 

1 1  To  witness  the  marriage,  if  it  be  a  true  one ;  to  step 
between  you  and  shame  if  any  element  of  falsehood 
should  come  in  to  affect  its  legality. ' ' 

Mary's  hand  fell  from  her  cousin's  arm.  "  I  do  not 
understand  you,"  said  she.  "  I  thought  you  never 
gave  countenance  to  what  you  considered  wrong." 

"  Nor  do  I.  Any  one  who  knows  me  will  understand 
that  I  do  not  give  my  approval  to  this  marriage  just  be 
cause  I  attend  its  ceremonial  in  the  capacity  of  an 
unwilling  witness." 

"Then  why  go?" 

' '  Because  I  value  your  honor  above  my  own  peace. 
Because  I  love  our  common  benefactor,  and  know  that 
he  would  never  pardon  me  if  I  let  his  darling  be  mar 
ried,  however  contrary  her  union  might  be  to  his  wishes, 
without  lending  the  support  of  my  presence  to  make  the 
transaction  at  least  a  respectable  one." 

"  But  in  so  doing  you  will  be  involved  in  a  world  of 
deception  —  which  you  hate." 

"  Any  more  so  than  now  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Clavering  does  not  return  with  me,  Eleanore." 

"  No,  I  supposed  not." 

"  I  leave  him  immediately  after  the  ceremony." 

Eleanore  bowed  her  head. 

' '  He  goes  to  Europe. ' '     A  pause. 

"  And  I  return  home." 


3H          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

"  There  to  wait  for  what,  Mary  ?  " 

Mary's  face  crimsoned,  and  she  turned  slowly  away. 
'  What  every  other  girl  does  under  such  circum 
stances,  I  suppose.  The  development  of  more  reason 
able  feelings  in  an  obdurate  parent's  heart." 

Eleanore  sighed,  and  a  short  silence  ensued,  broken 
by  Elean ore's  suddenly  falling  upon  her  knees,  and 
clasping  her  cousin's  hand.  "  Oh,  Mary,"  she  sobbed, 
her  haughtiness  all  disappearing  in  a  gush  of  wild  en 
treaty,  '  'consider  what  you  are  doing  !  Think,  before  it 
is  too  late,  of  the  consequences  which  must  follow  such 
an  act  as  this.  Marriage  founded  upon  deception  can 
never  lead  to  happiness.  Love  —  but  it  is  not  that. 
Love  would  have  led  you  either  to  have  dismissed  Mr. 
Clavering  at  once,  or  to  have  openly  accepted  the  fate 
which  a  union  with  him  would  bring.  Only  passion 
stoops  to  subterfuge  like  this.  And  you,"  she  con 
tinued,  rising  and  turning  toward  me  in  a  sort  of  forlorn 
hope  very  touching  to  see,  "can  you  see  this  young 
motherless  girl,  driven  by  caprice,  and  acknowledging 
no  moral  restraint,  enter  upon  the  dark  and  crooked 
path  she  is  planning  for  herself,  without  uttering  one 
word  of  warning  and  appeal  ?  Tell  me,  mother  of 
children  dead  and  buried,  what  excuse  you  will  have 
for  your  own  part  in  this  day's  work,  when  she,  with 
her  face  marred  by  the  sorrows  which  must  follow  this 
deception,  comes  to  you " 

"  The  same  excuse,  probably,"  Mary's  voice  broke 
in,  chill  and  strained,  "which  you  will  have  when 
uncle  inquires  how  you  came  to  allow  such  an  act  of 
disobedience  to  be  perpetrated  in  his  absence  :  that  she 
could  not  help  herself,  that  Mary  would  gang  her  ain 
gait,  and  every  one  around  must  accommodate  them 
selves  to  it." 


Hannah  315 

It  was  like  a  draught  of  icy  air  suddenly  poured  into 
a  room  heated  up  to  fever  point.  Eleanore  stiffened 
immediately,  and  drawing  back,  pale  and  composed, 
turned  upon  her  cousin  with  the  remark  : 

"  Then  nothing  can  move  you  ?  " 

The  curling  of  Mary's  lips  was  her  only  reply. 

Mr.  Raymond,  I  do  not  wish  to  weary  you  with  my 
feelings,  but  the  first  great  distrust  I  ever  felt  of  my 
wisdom  in  pushing  this  matter  so  far  came  with  that 
curl  of  Mary's  lip.  More  plainly  than  Bleanore's  words 
it  showed  me  the  temper  with  which  she  was  entering 
upon  this  undertaking;  and,  struck  with  momentary 
dismay,  I  advanced  to  speak  when  Mary  stopped  me. 

"  There,  now,  Mamma  Hubbard,  don't  you  go  and 
acknowledge  that  you  are  frightened,  for  I  won't  hear 
it.  I  have  promised  to  marry  Henry  Clavering  to-day, 
and  I  am  going  to  keep  my  word — if  I  don't  love  him," 
she  added  with  bitter  emphasis.  Then,  smiling  upon 
me  in  a  way  which  caused  me  to  forget  everything  save 
the  fact  that  she  was  going  to  her  bridal,  she  handed 
me  her  veil  to  fasten.  As  I  was  doing  this,  with  very 
trembling  fingers,  she  said,  looking  straight  at  Klea- 
nore  : 

"  You  have  shown  yourself  more  interested  in  my 
fate  than  I  had  any  reason  to  expect.  Will  you  con 
tinue  to  display  this  concern  all  the  way  to  F ,  or 

may  I  hope  for  a  few  moments  of  peace  in  which  to 
dream  upon  the  step  which,  according  to  you,  is  about 
to  hurl  upon  me  such  dreadful  consequences  ?  ' ' 

"  If  I  go  with  you  to  F ,"  Eleanore  returned,  "  it 

is  as  a  witness,  no  more.     My  sisterly  duty  is  done." 

"  Very  well,  then,"  Mary  said,  dimpling  with  sudden 
gayety;  "  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  accept  the  situation. 
Mamma  Hubbard,  I  am  so  sorry  to  disappoint  you,  but 


3*6          The  Leavenworth  Case 

the  buggy  won't  hold  three.  If  you  are  good  you  shall 
be  the  first  to  congratulate  me  when  I  come  home 
to-night."  And,  almost  before  I  knew  it,  the  two  had 
taken  their  seats  in  the  buggy  that  was  waiting  at  the 
door.  "  Good-by,"  cried  Mary,  waving  her  hand 
from  the  back;  "  wish  me  much  joy  —  of  my  ride." 

I  tried  to  do  so,  but  the  words  would  n't  come.  I 
could  only  wave  my  hand  in  response,  and  rush  sobbing 
into  the  house. 

Of  that  day,  and  its  long  hours  ct  alternate  remorse 
and  anxiety,  I  cannot  trust  myself  to  speak.  Let  me 
come  at  once  to  the  time  when,  seated  alone  in  my 
lamp-lighted  room,  I  waited  and  watched  for  the  token 
of  their  return  which  Mary  had  promised  me.  It  came 
in  the  shape  of  Mary  herself,  who,  wrapped  in  her  long 
cloak,  and  with  her  beautiful  face  aglow  with  blushes, 
carne  stealing  into  the  house  just  as  I  was  beginning  to 
despair. 

A  strain  of  wild  music  from  the  hotel  porch,  where 
they  were  having  a  dance,  entered  with  her,  producing 
such  a  weird  effect  upon  my  fancy  that  I  was  not  at  all 
surprised  when,  in  flinging  off  her  cloak,  she  displayed 
garments  of  bridal  white  and  a  head  crowned  with 
snowy  roses. 

"  Oh,  Mary  !  "  I  cried,  bursting  into  tears;  "  you 
are  then " 

"  Mrs.  Henry  Clavering,  at  your  service.  I  'm  a 
bride,  Auntie." 

"  Without  a  bridal,"  I  murmured,  taking  her  pas 
sionately  into  my  embrace. 

She  was  not  insensible  to  my  emotion.  Nestling 
close  to  me,  she  gave  herself  up  for  one  wild  moment 
to  a  genuine  burst  of  tears,  saying  between  her  sobs  all 
manner  of  tender  things;  telling  me  how  she  loved  me, 


Hannah  31? 

and  how  I  was  the  only  one  in  all  the  world  to  whom 
she  dared  come  on  this,  her  wedding  night,  for  comfort 
or  congratulation,  and  of  how  frightened  she  felt  now  it 
was  all  over,  as  if  with  her  name  she  had  parted  with 
something  of  inestimable  value. 

"  And  does  not  the  thought  of  having  made  some  one 
the  proudest  of  men  solace  you  ?  "  I  asked,  more  than 
dismayed  at  this  failure  of  mine  to  make  these  lovers 
happy. 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  sobbed.  "  What  satisfaction 
can  it  be  for  him  to  feel  himself  tied  for  life  to  a  girl 
who,  sooner  than  lose  a  prospective  fortune,  subjected 
him  to  such  a  parting  ?  " 

"  Tell  me  about  it,"  said  I. 

But  she  was  not  in  the  mood  at  that  moment.  The 
excitement  of  the  day  had  been  too  much  for  her.  A 
thousand  fears  seemed  to  beset  her  mind.  Crouching 
down  Gil  the  stool  at  my  feet,  she  sat  with  her  hands 
folded  and  a  glare  on  her  face  that  lent  an  aspect  of 
strange  unreality  to  her  brilliant  attire.  "  How  shall 
I  keep  it  secret  !  The  thought  haunts  me  every  mo 
ment;  how  can  I  keep  it  secret!  " 

"  Why,  is  there  any  danger  of  its  being  known  ?  "  I 
inquired.  "  Were  you  seen  or  followed  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  murmured.  "  It  all  went  off  well, 
but- — " 

"  Where  is  the  danger,  then  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  say  ;  but  some  deeds  are  like  ghosts. 
They  will  not  be  laid  ;  they  reappear  ;  they  gibber ; 
they  make  themselves  known  whether  we  will  or  not. 
I  did  not  think  of  this  before.  I  was  mad,  reckless, 
what  you  will.  But  ever  since  the  night  has  come,  I 
have  felt  it  crushing  upon  me  like  a  pall  that  smothers 
life  and  youth  and  love  out  of  my  heart.  While  the 


318          The  Leavenworth  Case 

sunlight  remained  I  could  endure  it ;  bu*  now  —  oh, 
Auntie,  I  have  done  something  that  will  keep  me  in 
constant  fear.  I  have  allied  myself  to  a  living  appre 
hension.  I  have  destroyed  my  happiness." 

I  was  too  aghast  to  speak. 

"  For  two  hours  I  have  played  at  being  gay.  Dressed 
in  my  bridal  white,  and  crowned  with  roses,  I  have 
greeted  my  friends  as  if  they  were  wedding-guests,  and 
made  believe  to  myself  that  all  the  compliments  be 
stowed  upon  me — and  they  are  only  too  numerous — were 
just  so  many  congratulations  upon  my  marriage.  But 
it  was  no  use  ;  Kleanore  knew  it  was  no  use.  She  has 
gone  to  her  room  to  pray,  while  I  —  I  have  come  here 
for  the  first  time,  perhaps  for  the  last,  to  fall  at  some 
one's  feet  and  cry,  —  *  God  have  mercy  upon  me! '  " 

I  looked  at  her  in  uncontrollable  emotion.  "  Oh, 
Mary,  have  I  only  succeeded,  then,  in  making  you 
miserable  ? ' ' 

She  did  not  answer;  she  was  engaged  in  picking  up 
the  crown  of  roses  which  had  fallen  from  her  hair  to 
the  floor. 

"  If  I  had  not  been  taught  to  love  money  so  !  "  she 
said  at  length.  "  If,  like  Kleanore,  I  could  look  upon 
the  splendor  which  has  been  ours  from  childhood  as  a 
mere  accessory  of  life,  easy  to  be  dropped  at  the  call  of 
duty  or  affection !  If  prestige,  adulation,  and  elegant 
belongings  were  not  so  much  to  me;  or  love,  friend 
ship,  and  domestic  happiness  more  !  If  only  I  could 
walk  a  step  without  dragging  the  chain  of  a  thousand 
luxurious  longings  after  me.  Kleanore  can.  Imperious 
as  she  often  is  in  her  beautiful  womanhood,  haughty 
as  she  can  be  when  the  delicate  quick  of  her  personal 
ity  is  touched  too  rudely,  I  have  known  her  to  sit  by 
the  hour  in  a  low,  chilly,  ill-lighted  and  ill-smelling 


Hannah  3*9 

garret,  cradling  a  dirty  child  on  her  knee,  and  feeding 
with  her  own  hand  an  impatient  old  woman  whom  no 
one  else  would  consent  to  touch.  Oh,  oh!  they  talk 
about  repentance  and  a  change  of  heart  !  If  some  one 
or  something  would  only  change  mine  !  But  there  is 
no  hope  of  that  !  no  hope  of  my  ever  being  anything 
else  than  what  I  am:  a  selfish,  wilful,  mercenary  girl." 

Nor  was  this  mood  a  mere  transitory  one.  That 
same  night  she  made  a  discovery  which  increased  her 
apprehension  almost  to  terror.  This  was  nothing  less 
than  the  fact  that  Kleanore  had  been  keeping  a  diary 
of  the  last  few  weeks.  "  Oh,"  she  cried  in  relating 
this  to  me  the  next  day,  "  what  security  shall  I  ever 
feel  as  long  as  this  diary  of  hers  remains  to  confront  me 
every  time  I  go  into  her  room  ?  And  she  will  not  con 
sent  to  destroy  it,  though  I  have  done  my  best  to  show 
her  that  it  is  a  betrayal  of  the  trust  I  reposed  in  her. 
She  says  it  is  all  she  has  to  show  in  the  way  of  defence, 
if  uncle  should  ever  accuse  her  of  treachery  to  him  and 
his  happiness.  She  promises  to  keep  it  locked  up;  but 
what  good  will  that  do  !  A  thousand  accidents  might 
happen,  any  of  them  sufficient  to  throw  it  into  uncle's 
hands.  I  shall  never  feel  safe  for  a  moment  while  it 
exists." 

I  endeavored  to  calm  her  by  saying  that  if  Eleanore 
was  without  malice,  such  fears  were  groundless.  But 
she  would  not  be  comforted,  and  seeing  her  so  wrought 
up,  I  suggested  that  Eleanore  should  be  asked  to  trust 
it  into  my  keeping  till  such  time  as  she  should  feel  the 
necessity  of  using  it.  The  idea  struck  Mary  favorably. 
"  O  yes,"  she  cried;  "  and  I  will  put  my  certificate 
with  it,  and  so  get  rid  of  all  my  care  at  once."  And 
before  the  afternoon  was  over,  .*»e  had  seen  Eleanore 
and  made  her  request. 


320          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

It  was  acceded  to  with  this  proviso,  that  I  was  neithei 
to  destroy  nor  give  up  all  or  any  of  the  papers  except 
upon  their  united  demand.  A  small  tin  box  was  ac 
cordingly  procured,  into  which  were  put  all  the  proofs 
of  Mary's  marriage  then  existing,  viz.  :  the  certificate, 
Mr.  Clavering's  letters,  and  such  leaves  from  Eleanore's 
diary  as  referred  to  this  matter.  It  was  then  handed 
over  to  me  with  the  stipulation  I  have  already  men 
tioned,  and  I  stowed  it  away  in  a  certain  closet  up 
stairs,  where  it  has  lain  undisturbed  till  last  night. 

Here  Mrs.  Belden  paused,  and,  blushing  painfully, 
raised  her  eyes  to  mine  with  a  look  in  which  anxiety 
and  entreaty  were  curiously  blended. 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  will  say,"  she  began,  "  but, 
led  away  by  my  fears,  I  took  that  box  out  of  its  hiding- 
place  last  evening  and,  notwithstanding  your  advice, 
carried  it  from  the  house,  and  it  is  now " 

"  In  my  possession,"  I  quietly  finished. 

I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  her  look  more  astounded, 
not  even  when  I  told  her  of  Hannah's  death.     "  Im 
possible  !  "  she  exclaimed.     "  I  left  it  last  night  in  the 
old  barn  that  was  burned  down.     I  merely  meant  to 
hide  it  for  the  present,  and  could  think  of  no  better 
place  in  my  hurry  ;  for  the  barn  is  said  to  be  haunted 
—  a  man  hung  himself  there  once  —  and  no  one  ever 
goes  there.     I  —  I  —  you  cannot  have  it  !  "  she  cried, 
"  unless " 

II  Unless  I  found  and  brought  it  away  before  the  barn 
was  destroyed,"  I  suggested. 

Her  face  flushed  deeper.  "  Then  you  followed 
me?" 

"  Yes,"  said  I.  Then,  as  I  felt  my  own  countenance 
redden>  hastened  to  add  :  "  We  have  been  playing 


Hannah  321 

strange  and  unaccustomed  parts,  you  and  I.  Some 
time,  when  all  these  dreadful  events  shall  be  a  mere 
dream  of  the  past,  we  will  ask  each  other's  pardon. 
But  never  mind  all  this  now.  The  box  is  safe,  and  I 
am  anxious  to  hear  the  rest  of  your  story." 

This  seemed  to  compose  her,  and  after  a  minute  she 
continued  : 

Mary  seemed  more  like  herself  after  this.  And 
though,  on  account  of  Mr.  Leavenworth's  return  and 
their  subsequent  preparations  for  departure,  I  saw  but 
little  more  of  her,  what  I  did  see  was  enough  to  make 
me  fear  that,  with  the  locking  up  of  the  proofs  of  her 
marriage,  she  was  indulging  the  idea  that  the  marriage 
itself  had  become  void.  But  I  may  have  wronged  her 
in  this. 

The  story  of  those  few  weeks  is  almost  finished. 
On  the  eve  of  the  day  before  she  left,  Mary  came  to  my 
house  to  bid  me  good-by.  She  had  a  present  in  her 
hand  the  value  of  which  I  will  not  state,  as  I  did  not 
take  it,  though  she  coaxed  me  with  all  her  prettiest  wiles. 
But  she  said  something  that  night  that  I  have  never 
been  able  to  forget.  It  was  this.  I  had  been  speaking 
of  my  hope  that  before  two  months  had  elapsed  she 
would  find  herself  in  a  position  to  send  for  Mr.  Claver- 
ing,  and  that  when  that  day  came  I  should  wish  to  be< 
advised  of  it;  when  she  suddenly  interrupted  me  by* 
saying  : 

"  Uncle  will  never  be  won  upon,  as  you  call  it,  while 
he  lives.  If  I  was  convinced  of  it  before,  I  am  sure  of 
it  now.  Nothing  but  his  death  will  ever  make  it  pos 
sible  for  me  to  send  for  Mr.  Clavering."  Then,  seeing 
me  look  aghast  at  the  long  period  of  separation  which 
this  seemed  to  betoken,  blushed  a  little  and  whispered  r 


322          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

"  The  prospect  looks  somewhat  dubious,  does  n't  it? 
But  if  Mr.  Clavering  loves  me,  he  can  wait." 

"  But,"  said  I,  "  your  uncle  is  only  little  past  the 
prime  of  life  and  appears  to  be  in  robust  health  ;  it  will 
be  years  of  waiting,  Mary." 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  muttered,  "  I  think  not. 
Uncle  is  not  as  strong  as  he  looks  and  — ' '  She  did 
not  say  any  more,  horrified  perhaps  at  the  turn  the 
conversation  was  taking.  But  there  was  an  expression 
on  her  countenance  that  set  me  thinking  at  the  time, 
and  has  kept  me  thinking  ever  since. 

Not  that  any  actual  dread  of  such  an  occurrence  as 
has  since  happened  came  to  oppress  my  solitude  dur 
ing  the  long  months  which  now  intervened.  I  was  as 
yet  too  much  under  the  spell  of  her  charm  to  aliow 
anything  calculated  to  throw  a  shadow  over  her  image 
to  remain  long  in  my  thoughts.  But  when,  some  time 
in  the  fall,  a  letter  came  to  me  personally  from  Mr. 
Clavering,  filled  with  a  vivid  appeal  to  tell  him  some 
thing  of  the  woman  who,  in  spite  of  her  vows,  doomed 
him  to  a  suspense  so  cruel,  and  when,  on  the  evening  of 
the  same  day,  a  friend  of  mine  who  had  just  returned 
from  New  York  spoke  of  meeting  Mary  Leavenworth 
at  some  gathering,  surrounded  by  manifest  admirers, 
I  began  to  realize  the  alarming  features  of  the  affair, 
and,  sitting  down,  I  wrote  her  a  letter.  Not  in  the 
strain  in  which  I  had  been  accustomed  to  talk  to  her, 
• — I  had  not  her  pleading  eyes  and  trembling,  caressing 
hands  ever  before  me  to  beguile  my  judgment  from  its 
proper  exercise,  —  but  honestly  and  earnestly,  telling 
her  how  Mr.  Clavering  felt,  and  what  a  risk  she  ran  in 
keeping  so  ardent  a  lover  from  his  rights.  The  reply 
she  sent  rather  startled  me. 

"  I  have  put  Mr.  Robbins  out  of  my  calculations  for 


Hannah  323 

the  present,  and  advise  you  to  do  the  same.  As  for  the 
gentleman  himself,  I  have  told  him  that  when  I  could 
receive  him  I  would  be  careful  to  notify  him.  That 
day  has  not  yet  come. 

"  But  do  not  let  him  be  discouraged,"  she  added  in 
a  postscript.  "  When  he  does  receive  his  happiness,  it 
will  be  a  satisfying  one.'* 

When,  I  thought.  Ah,  it  is  that  when  which  is 
likely  to  ruin  all  !  But,  intent  only  upon  fulfilling  her 
will,  I  sat  down  and  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Clavering, 
in  which  I  stated  what  she  had  said,  and  begged  him  to 
have  patience,  adding  that  I  would  surely  let  him 
know  if  any  change  took  place  in  Mary  or  her  circum 
stances.  And,  having  despatched  it  to  his  address  in 
London,  awaited  the  development  of  events. 

They  were  not  slow  in  transpiring.  In  two  weeks  I 
heard  of  the  sudden  death  of  Mr.  Stebbins,  the  minister 
who  had  married  them  ;  and  while  yet  laboring  under 
the  agitation  produced  by  this  shock,  was  further 
startled  by  seeing  in  a  New  York  paper  the  name  of 
Mr.  Clavering  among  the  list  of  arrivals  at  the  Hoffman 
House  ;  showing  that  my  letter  to  him  had  failed  in  its 
intended  effect,  and  that  the  patience  Mary  had  calcu 
lated  upon  so  blindly  was  verging  to  its  end.  I  was 
consequently  far  from  being  surprised  when,  in  a  couple 
of  weeks  or  so  afterwards,  a  letter  came  from  him  to  my 
address,  which,  owing  to  the  careless  omission  of  the 
private  mark  upon  the  envelope,  I  opened,  and  read 
enough  to  learn  that,  driven  to  desperation  by  the 
constant  failures  which  he  had  experienced  in  all  his 
endeavors  to  gain  access  to  her  in  public  or  private,  a 
failure  which  he  was  not  backward  in  ascribing  to  her 
indisposition  to  see  him,  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
risk  everything,  even  her  displeasure  ;  and,  by  making 


324          The  Leavenwortli  Case 

an  appeal  to  her  uncle,  end  the  suspense  under  which 
he  was  laboring,  definitely  and  at  once.  "  I  want 
you,"  he  wrote  ;  "  dowered  or  dowerless,  it  makes 
'  little  difference  to  me.  If  you  will  not  come  of  your 
self,  then  I  must  follow  the  example  of  the  brave 
knights,  my  ancestors  ;  storm  the  castle  that  holds 
iyou,  and  carry  you  off  by  force  of  arms." 

Neither  can  I  say  I  was  much  surprised,  knowing 
Mary  as  I  did,  when,  in  a  few  days  from  this,  she  for 
warded  to  me  for  copying,  this  reply  :  "  If  Mr.  Rob- 
bins  ever  expects  to  be  happy  with  Amy  Belden,  let 
him  reconsider  the  determination  of  which  he  speaks. 
Not  only  would  he  by  such  an  action  succeed  in  de 
stroying  the  happiness  of  her  he  professes  to  love,  but 
run  the  greater  risk  of  effectually  annulling  the  affec 
tion  which  makes  the  tie  between  them  endurable." 

To  this  there  was  neither  date  nor  signature.  It  was 
the  cry  of  warning  which  a  spirited,  self-contained 
creature  gives  when  brought  to  bay.  It  made  even 
me  recoil,  though  I  had  known  from  the  first  that  her 
pretty  wilfulness  was  but  the  tossing  foam  floating 
above  the  soundless  depths  of  cold  resolve  and  most 
deliberate  purpose. 

What  its  real  effect  was  upon  him  and  her  fate  I 
can  only  conjecture.  All  I  know  is  that  in  two  weeks 
thereafter  Mr.  L,eavenworth  was  found  murdered  in 
his  room,  and  Hannah  Chester,  coming  direct  to  my 
door  from  the  scene  of  violence,  begged  me  to  take  her 
in  and  secrete  her  from  public  inquiry,  as  I  loved  and 
desired  to  serve  Mary  L,eavenworth. 


XXXIII 

UNEXPECTED  TESTIMONY 

Pol.    What  do  you  read,  my  lord  ? 
Ham.    Words,  words,  words. 

Hamlet. 

MRS.  BELDEN  paused,  lost  in  the  sombre  shadow 
which  these  words  were  calculated  to  evoke, 
and  a  short  silence  fell  upon  the  room.  It  was  broken 
by  my  asking  for  some  account  of  the  occurrence  she 
had  just  mentioned,  it  being  considered  a  mystery  how 
Hannah  could  have  found  entrance  into  her  house 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  neighbors. 

"  Well,"  said  she,  "  it  was  a  chilly  night,  and  I  had 
gone  to  bed  early  (I  was  sleeping  then  in  the  room  off 
this)  when,  at  about  a  quarter  to  one  —  the  last  train 
goes  through  R— — •  at  12.50 — there  came  a  low  knock 
on  the  window-pane  at  the  head  of  my  bed.  Thinking 
that  some  of  the  neighbors  were  sick,  I  hurriedly  rose 
on  my  elbow  and  asked  who  was  there.  The  answer 
came  in  low,  muffled  tones,  *  Hannah,  Miss  Leaven 
worth's  girl  !  Please  let  me  in  at  the  kitchen  door/ 
Startled  at  hearing  the  well-known  voice,  and  fearing 
I  knew  not  what,  I  caught  up  a  lamp  and  hurried  round 
to  the  door.  '  Is  any  one  with  you  ?  '  I  asked.  '  No,' 
she  replied.  '  Then  come  in.'  But  no  sooner  had  she 
done  so  than  my  strength  failed  me,  and  I  had  to  sit 
down,  for  I  saw  she  looked  very  pale  and  strange,  was 

325 


326          The  Leavenworth  Case 

without  baggage,  and  altogether  had  the  appearance  of 
some  wandering  spirit.  '  Hannah! '  I  gasped,  *  what 
is  it  ?  what  has  happened  ?  what  brings  you  here  in 
this  condition  and  at  this  time  of  night  ?  '  '  Miss 
L,eavenworth  has  sent  me/  she  replied,  in  the  low, 
monotonous  tone  of  one  repeating  a  lesson  by  rote. 
'  She  told  me  to  come  here  ;  said  you  would  keep  me. 
I  am  not  to  go  out  of  the  house,  and  no  one  is  to  know 
I  am  here.'  '  But  why  ?  '  I  asked,  trembling  with  a 
thousand  undefined  fears  ;  '  what  has  occurred  ?  '  'I 
dare  not  say,'  she  whispered  ;  '  I  am  forbid  ;  I  am  just 
to  stay  here,  and  keep  quiet.'  *  But,'  I  began,  help 
ing  her  to  take  off  her  shawl, — the  dingy  blanket  adver 
tised  for  in  the  papers — '  you  must  tell  me.  She  surely 
did  not  forbid  you  to  tell  me?9  <  Yes  she  did  ;  every 
one,'  the  girl  replied,  growing  white  in  her  persistence, 
*  and  I  never  break  my  word  ;  fire  could  n't  draw  it 
out  of  me.'  She  looked  so  determined,  so  utterly  un 
like  herself,  as  I  remembered  her  in  the  meek,  unob 
trusive  days  of  our  old  acquaintance,  that  I  could  do 
nothing  but  stare  at  her.  '  You  will  keep  me,'  she 
said;  '  you  will  not  turn  me  away  ?  '  '  No,'  I  said,  '  I 
will  not  turn  you  away.'  '  And  tell  no  one  ?  '  she  went 
on.  '  And  tell  no  one,'  I  repeated. 

"  This  seemed  to  relieve  her.  Thanking  me,  she 
quietly  followed  me  up-stairs.  I  put  her  into  the  room  in 
which  you  found  her,  because  it  was  the  most  secret 
one  in  the  house;  and  there  she  has  remained  ever 
since,  satisfied  and  contented,  as  far  as  I  could  see,  till 
this  very  same  horrible  day." 

"  And  is  that  all  ?  "  I  asked.  "  Did  you  have  no 
explanation  with  her  afterwards  ?  Did  she  never  give 
you  any  information  in  regard  to  the  transactions 
which  led  to  her  flight  ?  " 


Hannah  327 

"  No,  sir.  She  kept  a  most  persistent  silence. 
Neither  then  nor  when,  upon  the  next  day,  I  con- 
fronted  her  with  the  papers  in  my  hand,  and  the  awful 
question  upon  my  lips  as  to  whether  her  flight  had 
been  occasioned  by  the  murder  which  had  taken  place 
in  Mr.  Leave nworth's  household,  did  she  do  more 
than  acknowledge  she  had  run  away  on  this  account. 
Some  one  or  something  had  sealed  her  lips,  and,  as 
she  said,  '  Fire  and  torture  should  never  make  her 
speak.'  " 

Another  short  pause  followed  this  ;  then,  with  my 
mind  still  hovering  about  the  one  point  of  intensest 
interest  to  me,  I  said : 

"  This  story,  then,  this  account  which  you  have  just 
given  me  of  Mary  Leaven  worth's  secret  marriage  and 
the  great  strait  it  put  her  into  —  a  strait  from  which 
nothing  but  her  uncle's  death  could  relieve  her  —  to 
gether  with  this  acknowledgment  of  Hannah's  that  she 
had  left  home  and  taken  refuge  here  on  the  insistence 
of  Mary  Leavenworth,  is  the  groundwork  you  have  for 
the  suspicions  you  have  mentioned  ?  ' ' 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  that  and  the  proof  of  her  interest  in  the 
matter  which  is  given  by  the  letter  I  received  from  her 
yesterday,  and  which  you  say  you  have  now"  in  your 
possession." 

Oh,  that  letter  ! 

"  I  know,'5  Mrs.  Belden  went  on  in  a  broken  voice, 
'*  that  it  is  wrong,  in  a  serious  case  like  this,  to  draw 
hasty  conclusions  ;  but,  oh,  sir,  how  can  I  help  it, 
knowing  what  I  do  ?  " 

I  did  not  answer  ;  I  was  revolving  in  my  mind  the 
old  question  :  was  it  possible,  in  face  of  all  these  later 
developments,  still  to  believe  Mary  Leavenworth 'sown 
hand  guiltless  of  her  uncle's  blood  ? 


328          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"It  is  dreadful  to  come  to  such  conclusions,"  pro* 
ceeded  Mrs.  Belden,  "  and  nothing  but  her  own  words 
written  in  her  own  hand  would  ever  have  driven  me  to 
them,  but " 

11  Pardon  me,"  I  interrupted  ;  <(  but  you  said  in  the 
beginning  of  this  interview  that  you  did  not  believe 
Mary  herself  had  any  direct  hand  in  her  uncle's  mur 
der.  Are  you  ready  to  repeat  that  assertion  ?  " 

'  Yes,  yes,  indeed.  Whatever  I  nigy  think  of  her 
influence  in  inducing  it,  I  never  could  imagine  her  as 
having  anything  to  do  with  its  actual  performance. 
Oh,  no  !  oh,  no  !  whatever  was  done  on  that  dreadful 
night,  Mary  L,eavenworth  never  put  hand  to  pistol  or 
ball,  or  even  stood  by  while  they  were  used  ;  that  you 
may  be  sure  of.  Only  the  man  who  loved  her,  longed, 
for  her,  and  felt  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  her  by 
any  other  means,  could  have  found  nerve  for  an  act  so 
horrible." 

"  Then  you  think " 

"  Mr.  Clavering  is  the  man  ?  I  do  ;  and  oh,  sir, 
when  you  consider  that  he  is  her  husband,  is  it  not 
dreadful  enough  ?  " 

"  It  is,  indeed,"  said  I,  rising  to  conceal  how  much 
I  was  affected  by  this  conclusion  of  hers. 

Something  in  my  tone  or  appearance  seemed  to 
startle  her.  "  I  hope  and  trust  I  have  not  been  indis 
creet,"  she  cried,  eying  me  with  something  like  an  incip 
ient  distrust.  "  With  this  dead  girl  lying  in  my  house, 
I  ought  to  be  very  careful,  I  know,  but " 

"  You  have  said  nothing,"  was  my  earnest  assurance 
as  I  edged  towards  the  door  in  my  anxiety  to  escape,  if 
but  for  a  moment,  from  an  atmosphere  that  was  stifling 
me.  "  No  one  can  blame  you  for  anything  you  have 
either  said  or  done  to-day.  But  "—  and  here  I  paused 


Hannah  329 

and  walked  hurriedly  back, — "  I  wish  to  ask  one  ques 
tion  more.  Have  3^ou  any  reason,  beyond  that  of 
natural  repugnance  to  believing  a  young  and  beautiful 
woman  guilty  of  a  great  crime,  for  saying  what  you 
have  of  Henry  Clavering,  a  gentleman  who  has  hither 
to  been  mentioned  by  you  with  respect  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  whispered,  with  a  touch  of  her  old 
agitation. 

I  felt  the  reason  insufficient,  and  turned  away  with 
something  of  the  same  sense  of  suffocation  with  which 
I  had  heard  that  the  missing  key  had  been  found  in 
Kleanore  Leavenworth's  possession.  "  You  must  ex 
cuse  me,"  I  said;  "  I  want  to  be  a  moment  by  myself, 
in  order  to  ponder  over  the  facts  which  I  have  just 
heard;  I  will  soon  return  "  ;  and  without  further  cere 
mony,  hurried  from  the  room. 

By  some  indefinable  impulse,  I  went  immediately 
up-stairs,  and  took  my  stand  at  the  western  window  of 
the  large  room  directly  over  Mrs.  Belden.  The  blinds 
were  closed;  the  room  was  shrouded  in  funereal  gloom, 
but  its  sornbreness  and  horror  were  for  the  moment  un- 
felt  ;  I  was  engaged  in  a  fearful  debate  with  myself. 
Was  Mary  Leavenworth  the  principal,  or  merely  the 
accessory,  in  this  crime  ?  Did  the  determined  preju 
dice  of  Mr.  Gryce,  the  convictions  of  Eleanore,  the 
circumstantial  evidence  even  of  such  facts  as  had  come 
to  our  knowledge,  preclude  the  possibility  that  Mrs. 
Belden's  conclusions  were  correct  ?  That  all  the  de 
tectives  interested  in  the  affair  would  regard  the  ques 
tion  as  settled,  I  did  not  doubt ;  but  need  it  be  ?  Was 
it  utterly  impossible  to  find  evidence  yet  that  Henry 
Clavering  was,  after  all,  the  assassin  of  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth  ? 

Filled  with  the  thought,  I  looked  across  the  room  to 


330         The  Leavenworth  Case 

the  closet  where  lay  the  body  of  the  girl  who,  according 
to  all  probability,  had  known  the  truth  of  the  matter, 
and  a  great  longing  seized  me.  Oh,  why  could  not  the 
dead  be  made  to  speak  ?  Why  should  she  lie  there  so 
silent,  so  pulseless,  so  inert,  when  a  word  from  her  were 
enough  to  decide  the  awful  question  ?  Was  there  no 
power  to  compel  those  pallid  lips  to  move  ? 

Carried  away  by  the  fervor  of  the  moment,  I  made 
my  way  to  her  side.  Ah,  God,  how  still !  With  what 
a  mockery  the  closed  lips  and  lids  confronted  my  de 
manding  gaze  I  A  stone  could  not  have  been  more 
unresponsive. 

With  a  feeling  that  was  almost  like  anger,  I  stood 
there,  when  —  what  was  it  I  saw  protruding  from  be 
neath  her  shoulders  where  they  crushed  against  the 
bed  ?  An  envelope  ?  a  letter  ?  Yes. 

Dizzy  with  the  sudden  surprise,  overcome  with  the 
wild  hopes  this  discovery  awakened,  I  stooped  in  great 
agitation  and  drew  the  letter  out.  It  was  sealed  but 
not  directed.  Breaking  it  hastily  open,  I  took  a  glance 
at  its  contents.  Good  heavens  !  it  was  the  work  of  the 
girl  herself ! — its  very  appearance  was  enough  to  make 
that  evident  !  Feeling  as  if  a  miracle  had  happened,  I 
hastened  with  it  into  the  other  room,  and  set  myself  to 
decipher  the  awkward  scrawl. 

This  is  what  I  saw,  rudely  printed  in  lead  pencil  on 
the  inside  of  a  sheet  of  common  writing-paper  : 

"I  am  a  wicked  girl.  I  have  knone  things  all  the  time 
which  I  had  ought  to  have  told  but  I  did  n't  dare  to  he  said 
he  would  kill  me  if  I  did  I  mene  the  tall  splendud  looking 
gentulman  with  the  black  mustash  who  I  met  coming  out  of 
Mister  Levenworth's  room  with  a  key  in  his  hand  the  night  Mr. 
Levenworth  was  murdered.  He  was  so  scared  he  gave  me 
money  and  made  me  go  away  and  come  here  and  keep  every 


Hannah  331 

thing  secret  but  I  can't  do  so  no  longer.  I  seem  to  see  Miss 
Elenor  all  the  time  crying  and  asking  me  if  I  want  her  sent  to 
prisun.  God  knows  I  'd  rathur  die.  And  this  is  the  truth  and 
my  last  words  and  I  pray  every  body's  forgivness  and  hope 
nobody  will  blame  me  and  that  they  wont  bother  Miss  Elenor 
any  more  but  go  and  look  after  the  handsome  gentulman  with 
the  black  mushtash." 


BOOK  IV 

THE  PROBLEM  SOLVED 
XXXIV 

MR.  GRYCE  RESUMES  CONTROL 

*  It  out-herods  Herod." 

Hamlet. 

**  A  thing  devised  by  the  enemy." 

Richard  III. 

A  HALF-HOUR  had  passed.  The  train  upon  which 
I  had  every  reason  to  expect  Mr.  Gryce  had  ar 
rived,  and  I  stood  in  the  doorway  awaiting  with  inde 
scribable  agitation  the  slow  and  labored  approach  of 
the  motley  group  of  men  and  women  whom  I  had  ob 
served  leave  the  depot  at  the  departure  of  the  cars. 
Would  he  be  among  them  ?  Was  the  telegram  of  a 
nature  peremptory  enough  to  make  his  presence  here, 
sick  as  he  was,  an  absolute  certainty  ?  The  written  con 
fession  of  Hannah  throbbing  against  my  heart,  a  heart 
all  elation  now,  as  but  a  short  half-hour  before  it  had 
been  all  doubt  and  struggle,  seemed  to  rustle  distrust, 
and  the  prospect  of  a  long  afternoon  spent  in  impatience 
was  rising  before  me,  when  a  portion  of  the  advancing 
crowd  turned  off  into  a  side  street,  and  I  saw  the  form 
of  Mr.  Gryce  hobbling,  not  on  two  sticks,  but  very  pain 
fully  on  one,  coming  slowly  down  the  street 

332 


The  Problem  Solved  333 

His  face,  as  he  approached,  was  a  study, 

"  Well,  well,  well,"  he  exclaimed,  as  we  met  at  the 
gate;  "  this  is  a  pretty  how-dye-do,  I  must  say.  Han 
nah  dead,  eh  ?  and  everything  turned  topsy-turvy  ! 
Humph,  and  what  do  you  think  of  Mary  Leavenworth 
new  ?  " 

It  would  therefore  seem  natural,  in  the  conversation 
which  followed  his  introduction  into  the  house  and  in 
stalment  in  Mrs.  Belden's  parlor,  that  I  should  begin 
xiy  narration  by  showing  him  Hannah's  confession  ; 
but  it  was  not  so.  Whether  it  was  that  I  felt  anxious 
to  have  him  go  through  the  same  alternations  of  hope 
and  fear  it  had  been  my  lot  to  experience  since  I  came 

to  R ;  or  whether,  in  the  depravity  of  human  nature, 

there  lingered  within  rne  sufficient  resentment  for  the 
persistent  disregard  he  had  always  paid  to  my  suspicions 
of  Henry  Clavering  to  make  it  a  matter  of  moment  to 
me  to  spring  this  knowledge  upon  him  j  ust  at  the  in 
stant  his  own  convictions  seemed  to  have  reached  the 
point  of  absolute  certainty,  I  cannot  say.  Knough  that 
it  was  not  till  I  had  given  him  a  full  account  of  every 
other  matter  connected  with  my  stay  in  this  house  ;  not 
till  I  saw  his  eye  beaming,  and  his  lip  quivering  with 
the  excitement  incident  upon  the  perusal  of  the  letter 
from  Mary,  found  in  Mrs.  Belden's  pocket;  not,  indeed, 
until  I  became  assured  from  such  expressions  as 
' '  Tremendous !  The  deepest  game  of  the  season !  No 
thing  like  it  since  the  Lafarge  affair  !  "  that  in  another 
moment  he  would  be  uttering  some  theory  or  belief  that 
once  heard  would  forever  stand  like  a  barrier  between 
us,  did  I  allow  myself  to  hand  him  the  letter  I  had 
taken  from  under  the  dead  body  of  Hannah. 

I  shall  never  forget  his  expression  as  he  received  it  S 
*e  Good  heavens  !  "  cried  he,  "  what 's  this  ?  " 


334          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  A  dying  confession  of  the  girl  Hannah.  I  found  it 
lying  in  her  bed  when  I  went  up,  a  half-hour  ago,  to 
take  a  second  look  at  her." 

Opening  it,  he  glanced  over  it  with  an  incredulous 
air  that  speedily,  however,  turned  to  one  of  the  utmost 
astonishment,  as  he  hastily  perused  it,  and  then  stood 
turning  it  over  and  over  in  his  hand,  examining  it. 

"  A  remarkable  piece  of  evidence,"  I  observed,  not 
without  a  certain  feeling  of  triumph  ;  "  quite  changes 
the  aspect  of  affairs  ! ' ' 

"  Think  so  ?  "  he  sharply  retorted  ;  then,  whilst  I 
stood  staring  at  him  in  amazement,  his  manner  was  so 
different  from  what  I  expected,  looked  up  and  said: 
"  You  tell  me  that  you  found  this  in  her  bed.  Where 
abouts  in  her  bed  ?  ' ' 

"  Under  the  body  of  the  girl  herself,"  I  returned. 
"  I  saw  one  corner  of  it  protruding  from  beneath  her 
shoulders,  and  drew  it  out. ' ' 

He  came  and  stood  before  me.  "  Was  it  folded  or 
open,  when  you  first  looked  at  it  ?  " 

"  Folded  ;  fastened  up  in  this  envelope,"  showing  it 
to  him. 

He  took  it,  looked  at  it  for  a  moment,  and  went  on 
with  his  questions. 

* '  This  envelope  has  a  very  crumpled  appearance,  as 
well  as  the  letter  itself.  Were  they  so  when  you  found 
them?" 

"  Yes,  not  only  so,  but  doubled  up  as  you  see." 

"  Doubled  up?  You  are  sure  of  that?  Folded, 
sealed,  and  then  doubled  up  as  if  her  body  had  rolled 
across  it  while  alive  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  No  trickery  about  it  ?  No  look  as  if  the  thing  had 
been  insinuated  there  since  her  death  ?  " 


The  Problem  Solved  335 

"  Not  at  all.  I  should  rather  say  that  to  every  ap 
pearance  she  held  it  in  her  hand  when  she  lay  down, 
but  turning  over,  dropped  it  and  then  laid  upon  it." 

Mr.  Gryce's  eyes,  which  had  been  very  bright,  omi 
nously  clouded;  evidently  he  had  been  disappointed  in 
my  answers.  Laying  the  letter  down,  he  stood  musing, 
but  suddenly  lifted  it  again,  scrutinized  the  edges  of  the 
paper  on  which  it  was  written,  and,  darting  me  a  quick 
look,  vanished  with  it  into  the  shade  of  the  window 
curtain.  His  manner  was  so  peculiar,  I  involuntarily 
rose  to  follow;  but  he  waved  me  back,  saying  : 

"  Amuse  yourself  with  that  box  on  the  table,  which 
you  had  such  an  ado  over;  see  if  it  contains  all  we  have 
a  right  to  expect  to  find  in  it.  I  want  to  be  by  myself 
for  a  moment." 

Subduing  my  astonishment,  I  proceeded  to  comply 
with  his  request,  but  scarcely  had  I  lifted  the  lid  of  the 
box  before  me  when  he  came  hurrying  back,  flung  the 
letter  down  on  the  table  with  an  air  of  the  greatest 
excitement,  and  cried  : 

"  Did  I  say  there  had  never  been  anything  like  it 
since  the  Lafarge  affair  ?  I  tell  you  there  has  never 
been  anything  like  it  in  any  affair.  It  is  the  rummest 
case  on  record!  Mr.  Raymond,"  and  his  eyes,  in  his 
excitement,  actually  met  mine  for  the  first  time  in  my 
experience  of  him,  * '  prepare  yourself  for  a  disappoint 
ment.  This  pretended  confession  of  Hannah's  is  a 
fraud!" 

"  A  fraud?" 

"  Yes;  fraud,  forgery,  what  you  will;  the  girl  never 
wrote  it." 

Amazed,  outraged  almost,  I  bounded  from  my  chair. 
"  How  do  you  know  that  ?  "  I  cried. 

Bending  forward,  he  put  the  letter  into  my  hand> 


336          The  Leavenworth  Case 


r 


Look  at  it,"  said  he;  "  examine  it  closely.  Now  tell 
me  what  is  the  first  thing  you  notice  in  regard  to 
it?" 

"  Why,  the  first  thing  that  strikes  me,  is  that  the 
words  are  printed,  instead  of  written;  something  which 
might  be  expected  from  this  girl,  according  to  all 
accounts." 

"Well?" 

;<  That  they  are  printed  on  the  inside  of  a  sheet  of 
ordinary  paper " 

"  Ordinary  paper  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  That  is,  a  sheet  of  commercial  note  of  the  ordinary 
quality." 

4 'Of  course." 

"But  is  it?" 

"  WThy,  yes  ;   I  should  say  so." 

"  Look  at  the  lines." 

"  What  of  them  ?  Oh,  I  see,  they  run  up  close  to 
the  top  of  the  page  ;  evidently  the  scissors  have  been 
used  here." 

'  *  In  short,  it  is  a  large  sheet,  trimmed  down  to  the 
size  of  commercial  note  ?  ' ' 

"Yes." 

"  And  is  that  all  you  see  ?  " 

"All  but  the  words." 

"  Don't  you  perceive  what  has  been  lost  by  means  of 
this  trimming  down  ?  " 

"  No,  unless  you  mean  the  manufacturer's  stamp  in 
the  corner."  Mr.  Gryce's  glance  took  meaning. 
"  But  I  don't  see  why  the  loss  of  that  should  be  deemed 
a  matter  of  any  importance. ' ' 

"  Don't  you  ?  Not  when  you  consider  that  by  it  we 
seem  to  be  deprived  of  all  opportunity  of  tracing  this 


The  Problem  Solved  337 

sheet  back  to  the  quire  of  paper  from  which  it  was 
taken  ?  " 

"  No." 

*  *  Humph  !  then  you  are  more  of  an  amateur  than  I 
thought  you.  Don't  you  see  that,  as  Hannah  could 
have  had  no  motive  for  concealing  where  the  paper 
came  from  on  which  she  wrote  her  dying  words,  this 
sheet  must  have  been  prepared  by  some  one  else  ?  ' ' 

"  No,"  said  I  ;  "  I  cannot  say  that  I  see  all 
that." 

"  Can't !  Well  then,  answer  me  this.  Why  should 
Hannah,  a  girl  about  to  commit  suicide,  care  whether 
any  clue  was  furnished,  in  her  confession,  to  the  actual 
desk,  drawer,  or  quire  of  paper  from  which  the  sheet 
was  taken,  on  which  she  wrote  it  ?  " 

"She  would  n't." 

"  Yet  especial  pains  have  been  taken  to  destroy  that 
clue." 

"  But " 

"  Then  there  is  another  thing.  Read  the  confession 
itself,  Mr.  Raymond,  and  tell  me  what  you  gather  from 
it." 

1  'Why,"  said  I,  after  complying,  "  that  the  girl, 
worn  out  with  constant  apprehension,  has  made  up 
her  mind  to  do  away  with  herself,  and  that  Henry 
Clavering ' ' 

"  Henry  Clavering  ?" 

The  interrogation  was  put  with  so  much  meaning,  I 
looked  up.  "  Yes,"  said  I. 

"  Ah,  I  did  n't  know  that  Mr.  Clavering's  name  was 
mentioned  there  ;  excuse  me." 

"  His  name  is  not  mentioned,  but  a  description  is 
given  so  strikingly  in  accordance " 

Here  Mr.  Gryce  interrupted  me.     "  Does  it  not  seem 


338          The  Leavenworth  Case 

a  little  surprising  to  you  that  a  girl  like  Hannah  should 
have  stopped  to  describe  a  man  she  knew  by  name  ?  " 

I  started  ;  it  was  unnatural  surely. 

"  You  believe  Mrs.  Belden's  story,  don't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Consider  her  accurate  in  her  relation  of  what  took 
place  here  a  year  ago  ?  " 

"  I  do." 

"  Must  believe,  then,  that  Hannah,  the  go-between, 
was  acquainted  with  Mr.  Clavering  and  with  his 
name?" 

"Undoubtedly." 

"  Then  why  did  n't  she  use  it  ?  If  her  intention 
was,  as  she  here  professes,  to  save  Kleanore  Leaven- 
worth  from  the  false  imputation  which  had  fallen  upon 
her,  she  would  naturally  take  the  most  direct  method 
of  doing  it.  This  description  of  a  man  whose  identity 
she  could  have  at  once  put  beyond  a  doubt  by  the  men 
tion  of  his  name  is  the  work,  not  of  a  poor,  ignorant 
girl,  but  of  some  person  who,  in  attempting  to  play  the 
rdle  of  one,  has  signally  failed.  But  that  is  not  all. 
Mrs.  Belden,  according  to  you,  maintains  that  Hannah 
told  her,  upon  entering  the  house,  that  Mary  Leaven- 
worth  sent  her  here.  But  in  this  document,  she  de 
clares  it  to  have  been  the  work  of  Black  Mustache. ' ' 

"  I  know;  but  could  they  not  have  both  been  parties 
to  the  transaction  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  he;  "  yet  it  is  always  a  suspicious  cir 
cumstance,  when  there  is  a  discrepancy  between  the 
written  and  spoken  declaration  of  a  person.  But  why 
do  we  stand  here  fooling,  when  a  few  words  from  this 
Mrs.  Belden,  you  talk  so  much  about,  will  probably 
settle  the  whole  matter  !  " 

"A  few  words  from  Mrs.  Belden,"  I  repeated.   "  I 


The  Problem  Solved  339 

have  had  thousands  from  her  to-day,  and  find  the  mat 
ter  no  nearer  settled  than  in  the  beginning." 

"  You  have  had,"  said  he,  "  but  I  have  not.     Fetch  j 
her  in,  Mr.  Raymond."  * 

I  rose.  "  One  thing,"  said  I,  "  before  I  go.  What 
if  Hannah  had  found  the  sheet  of  paper,  trimmed  just 
as  it  is,  and  used  it  without  any  thought  of  the  suspi 
cions  it  would  occasion  !  " 

"  Ah  !  "  said  he,  "  that  is  just  what  we  are  going  to 
find  out." 

Mrs.  Belden  was  in  a  flutter  of  impatience  when  I 
entered  the  sitting-room.  When  did  I  think  the  coroner 
would  come  ?  and  what  did  I  imagine  this  detective 
would  do  for  us  ?  It  was  dreadful  waiting  there  alone 
for  something,  she  knew  not  what. 

I  calmed  her  as  well  as  I  could,  telling  her  the  de 
tective  had  not  yet  informed  me  what  he  could  do, 
having  some  questions  to  ask  her  first.     Would  she 
come  in  to  see  him  ?    She  rose  with  alacrity.     Any 
thing  was  better  than  suspense. 

Mr.  Gryce,  who  in  the  short  interim  of  my  absence 
had  altered  his  mood  from  the  severe  to  the  beneficent, 
received  Mrs.  Belden  with  just  that  show  of  respectful 
courtesy  likely  to  impress  a  woman  as  dependent  as  she 
upon  the  good  opinion  of  others. 

1 '  Ah  !  and  this  is  the  lady  in  whose  house  this  very 
disagreeable  event  has  occurred,"  he  exclaimed,  partly 
rising  in  his  enthusiasm  to  greet  her.  "  May  I  request 
you  to  sit,"  he  asked  ;  "  if  a  stranger  may  be  allowed 
to  take  the  liberty  of  inviting  a  lady  to  sit  in  her  own 
house." 

II  It  does  not  seem  like  my  own  house  any  longer," 
said  she,  but  in  a  sad,  rather  than  an  aggressive  tone  ; 
so  much  had  his  genial  way  imposed  upon  her.     * '  I^ittle 


34°          The  Leavenworth  Case 

better  than  a  prisoner  here,  I  go  and  come,  keep  silence 
or  speak,  just  as  I  am  bidden  ;  and  all  because  an  un 
happy  creature,  whom  I  took  in  for  the  most  unselfish 
of  motives,  has  chanced  to  die  in  my  house  ! ' ' 

"  Just  so!  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Gryce;  "  it  is  very  unjust. 
But  perhaps  we  can  right  matters.  I  have  every  reason 
to  believe  we  can.  This  sudden  death  ought  to  be 
easily  explained.  You  say  you  had  no  poison  in  the 
house?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  And  that  the  girl  never  went  out  ?  " 

"  Never,  sir." 

"  And  that  no  one  has  ever  been  here  to  see  her  ?  " 

"  No  one,  sir." 

"  So  that  she  could  not  have  procured  any  such  thing 
if  she  had  wished  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Unless,"  he  added  suavely,  "  she  had  it  with  her 
when  she  came  here  ?  " 

"  That  could  n't  have  been,  sir.  She  brought  no 
baggage  ;  and  as  for  her  pocket,  I  knov/  everything 
there  was  in  it,  for  I  looked." 

"  And  what  did  you  find  there  ?  " 

"  Some  money  in  bills,  more  than  you  would  have 
expected  such  a  girl  to  have,  some  loose  pennies,  and  a 
common  handkerchief." 

'*  Well,  then,  it  is  proved  the  girl  did  n't  die  of  poison, 
there  being  none  in  the  house." 

He  said  this  in  so  convinced  a  tone  she  was  deceived. 
*'  That  is  just  what  I  have  been  telling  Mr.  Raymond," 
giving  me  a  triumphant  look. 

"  Must  have  been  heart  disease,"  he  went  on.  "  You 
say  she  was  well  yesterday  ?  ' ' 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  or  seemed  so." 


The  Problem  Solved  341 

• 

*'  Though  not  cheerful  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  say  that ;  she  was,  sir,  very." 

"  What,  ma'am,  this  girl  ?  "  giving  me  a  look.  "  I 
don't  understand  that.  I  should  think  her  anxiety 
about  those  she  had  left  behind  her  in  the  city  would 
have  been  enough  to  keep  her  from  being  very 
cheerful." 

"  So  you  would,"  returned  Mrs.  Belden  ;  "but  it 
was  n't  so.  On  the  contrary,  she  never  seemed  to 
worry  about  them  at  all." 

"  What!  not  about  Miss  Eleanore,  who,  according  to 
the  papers,  stands  in  so  cruel  a  position  before  the 
world  ?  But  perhaps  she  did  n't  know  anything  about 
that  —  Miss  Leavenworth's  position,  I  mean  ?  " 

"  Yes,  she  did,  for  I  told  her.  I  was  so  astonished 
I  could  not  keep  it  to  myself.  You  see,  I  had  always 
considered  Eleanore  as  one  above  reproach,  and  it  so 
shocked  me  to  see  her  name  mentioned  in  the  newspaper 
in  such  a  connection,  that  I  went  to  Hannah  and  read 
the  article  aloud,  and  watched  her  face  to  see  how  she 
took  it." 

"And  how  did  she?" 

"  I  can't  say.  She  looked  as  if  she  did  n't  under 
stand  ;  asked  me  why  I  read  such  things  to  her,  and 
told  me  she  did  n't  want  to  hear  any  more  ;  that  I  had 
promised  not  to  trouble  her  about  this  murder,  and  that 
if  I  continued  to  do  so  she  would  n't  listen." 

"  Humph  !  and  what  else  ?  " 

"  Nothing  else.  She  put  her  hand  over  her  ears  and 
frowned  in  such  a  sullen  way  I  left  the  room." 

"  That  was  when  ?" 

"  About  three  weeks  ago."         % 

"  She  has,  however,  mentioned  the  subject  since  ?  " 

'*  No,  sir;  not  once." 


342          The  Leavenworth  Case 

"  What!  not  asked  what  they  were  going  to  do  with 
her  mistress  ?  '  * 

"  No,  sir." 

"  She  has  shown,  however,  that  something  was  prey 
ing  on  her  mind  —  fear,  remorse,  or  anxiety  ?  " 

' '  No,  sir  ;  on  the  contrary,  she  has  oftener  appeared 
like  one  secretly  elated." 

"  But,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Gryce,  with  another  sidelong 
look  at  me,  "  that  was  very  strange  and  unnatural.  I 
cannot  account  for  it." 

"  Nor  I,  sir.  I  used  to  try  to  explain  it  by  thinking 
her  sensibilities  had  been  blunted,  or  that  she  was  too 
ignorant  to  comprehend  the  seriousness  of  what  had 
happened;  but  as  I  learned  to  know  her  better,  I  gradu 
ally  changed  my  mind.  There  was  too  much  method 
in  her  gayety  for  that.  I  could  not  help  seeing  she 
had  some  future  before  her  for  which  she  was  preparing 
herself.  As,  for  instance,  she  asked  me  one  day  if  I 
thought  she  could  learn  to  play  on  the  piano.  And  I 
finally  came  to  the  conclusion  she  had  been  promised 
money  if  she  kept  the  secret  intrusted  to  her,  and  was 
so  pleased  with  the  prospect  that  she  forgot  the  dread 
ful  past,  and  all  connected  with  it.  At  all  events,  that 
was  the  only  explanation  I  could  find  for  her  general 
industry  and  desire  to  improve  herself,  or  for  the  com 
placent  smiles  I  detected  now  and  then  stealing  over 
her  face  when  she  did  n't  know  I  was  looking." 

Not  such  a  smile  as  crept  over  the  countenance  of 
Mr.  Gryce  at  that  moment,  I  warrant. 

"  It  was  all  this,"  continued  Mrs.  Belden,  "  which 
made  her  death  such  a  shock  to  me.  I  could  n't  believe 
that  so  cheerful  and  healthy  a  creature  could  die  like 
that,  all  in  one  night,  without  anybody  knowing  any 
thing  about  it.  But " 


The  Problem  Solved  343 

"  Wait  one  moment,"  Mr.  Gryce  here  broke  in. 
"  You  speak  of  her  endeavors  to  improve  herself. 
What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  ' ' 

"  Her  desire  to  learn  things  she  did  n't  know;  as,  for 
instance,  to  write  and  read  writing.  She  could  only 
clumsily  print  when  she  came  here." 

I  thought  Mr.  Gryce  would  take  a  piece  out  of  my 
arm,  he  griped  it  so. 

4 '  When  she  came  here  !  Do  you  mean  to  say  that 
since  she  has  been  with  you  she  has  learned  to  write  ?  ' ' 

"  Yes,  sir;  I  used  to  set  her  copies  and " 

*  *  Where  are  these  copies  ?  ' '  broke  in  Mr.  Gryce, 
subduing  his  voice  to  its  most  professional  tone.  * '  And 
where  are  her  attempts  at  writing  ?  I'd  like  to  see 
some  of  them.  Can't  you  get  them  for  us  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir.  I  always  made  it  a  point  to  de 
stroy  them  as  soon  as  they  had  answered  their  purpose. 
I  did  n't  like  to  have  such  things  lying  around.  But  I 
will  go  see." 

"  Do,"  said  he  ;  "  and  I  will  go  with  you.  I  want 
to  take  a  look  at  things  upstairs,  any  way. ' '  And,  heed 
less  of  his  rheumatic  feet,  he  rose  and  prepared  to 
accompany  her. 

"  This  is  getting  very  intense,"  I  whispered,  as  he 
passed  me. 

The  smile  he  gave  me  in  reply  would  have  made  the 
fortune  of  a  Thespian  Mephistopheles. 

Of  the  ten  minutes  of  suspense  which  I  endured  in 
their  absence,  I  say  nothing.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
they  returned  with  their  hands  full  of  paper  boxes, 
which  they  flung  down  on  the  table. 

"  The  writing-paper  of  the  household,"  observed 
Mr.  Gryce  ;  "  every  scrap  and  half- sheet  which  could 
be  found.  But,  before  you  examine  it,  look  at  this." 


344          The  Leavenworth  Case 

And  he  held  out  a  sheet  of  bluish  foolscap,  on  which 
were  written  some  dozen  imitations  of  that  time-worn 
copy,  "  BE  GOOD  AND  YOU  wiu,  BE  HAPPY  "  ;  with  an 
occasional  "  Beauty  soon  fades"  and  "  Evil  communica 
tions  corrupt  good  manners. ' ' 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

"  Very  neat  and  very  legible." 

"  That  is  Hannah's  latest.  The  only  specimens  of 
her  writing  to  be  found.  Not  much  like  some  scrawls 
we  have  seen,  eh  ?  " 

"No." 

"  Mrs.  Belden  says  this  girl  has  known  how  to  write 
as  good  as  this  for  more  than  a  week.  Took  great 
pride  in  it,  and  was  continually  talking  about  how 
smart  she  was."  Leaning  over,  he  whispered  in  my 
ear,  "  This  thing  you  have  in  your  hand  must  have 
been  scrawled  some  time  ago,  if  she  did  it."  Then 
aloud:  "  But  let  us  look  at  the  paper  she  used  to  write 
on." 

Dashing  open  the  covers  of  the  boxes  on  the  table, 
he  took  out  the  loose  sheets  lying  inside,  and  scattered 
them  out  before  me.  One  glance  showed  they  were  all 
of  an  utterly  different  quality  from  that  used  in  the  con 
fession.  "  This  is  all  the  paper  in  the  house,"  said  he. 

"  Are  you  sure  of  that  ?  "  I  asked,  looking  at  Mrs. 
Belden,  who  stood  in  a  sort  of  maze  before  us.  "  Was  n't 
there  one  stray  sheet  lying  around  somewhere,  foolscap 
or  something  like  that,  which  she  might  have  got  hold 
of  and  used  without  your  knowing  it  ?  " 

"  No,  sir;  I  don't  think  so.  I  had  only  these  kinds; 
besides,  Hannah  had  a  whole  pile  of  paper  like  this  in 
her  room,  and  would  n't  have  been  apt  to  go  hunting 
round  after  any  stray  sheets." 

*'  But  you  don't  know  what  a  girl  like  that  might 


The  Problem  Solved  345 

do.  Look  at  this  one,"  said  I,  showing  her  the  blank 
side  of  the  confession.  "  Could  n't  a  sheet  like  this 
have  come  from  somewhere  about  the  house  ?  Kxamine 
it  well  ;  the  matter  is  important." 

"  I  have,  and  I  say,  no,  I  never  had  a  sheet  of  paper 
like  that  in  my  house." 

Mr.  Gryce  advanced  and  took  the  confession  from 
my  hand.  As  he  did  so,  he  whispered:  "  What  do  you 
think  now  ?  Many  chances  that  Hannah  got  up  this 
precious  document  ?  " 

I  shook  my  head,  convinced  at  last;  but  in  another 
moment  turned  to  him  and  whispered  back:  "  But,  if 
Hannah  did  n't  write  it,  who  did  ?  And  how  came  it 
to  be  found  where  it  was  ?  ' ' 

"  That,"  said  he,  "  is  just  what  is  left  for  us  to 
learn."  And,  beginning  again,  he  put  question  after 
question  concerning  the  girl's  life  in  the  house,  receiv 
ing  answers  which  only  tended  to  show  that  she  could 
not  have  brought  the  confession  with  her,  much  less 
received  it  from  a  secret  messenger.  Unless  we 
doubted  Mrs.  Belden's  word,  the  mystery  seemed  im 
penetrable,  and  I  was  beginning  to  despair  of  success, 
when  Mr.  Gryce,  with  an  askance  look  at  me,  leaned 
towards  Mrs.  Belden  and  said  : 

"  You  received  a  letter  from  Miss  Mary  Leavenworth 
yesterday,  I  hear.'* 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  This  letter  ?  "  he  continued,  showing  it  to  her. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Now  I  want  to  ask  you  a  question.  Was  the  letter, 
as  you  see  it,  the  only  contents  of  the  envelope  in  which 
it  came  ?  Was  n't  there  one  for  Hannah  enclosed  with 
it?" 

"  No,  sir.     There  was  nothing  in  my  letter  for  her; 


346          The  Leavenworth  Case 

but  she  had  a  letter  herself  yesterday.  It  came  in  the 
same  mail  with  mine." 

"  Hannah  had  a  letter  !  "  we  both  exclaimed;  "  and 
in  the  mail?" 

"  Yes  ;  but  it  was  not  directed  to  her.  It  was" — 
casting  me  a  look  full  of  despair,  "  directed  to  me.  It 
was  only  by  a  certain  mark  in  the  corner  of  the  envel 
ope  that  I  knew " 

"  Good  heaven  !  "  I  interrupted;  "  where  is  this  let 
ter  ?  Why  did  n't  you  speak  of  it  before  ?  What  do 
you  mean  by  allowing  us  to  flounder  about  here  in  the 
dark,  when  a  glimpse  at  this  letter  might  have  set  us 
right  at  once  ?  " 

"  I  did  n't  think  anything  about  it  till  this  minute. 
I  did  n't  know  it  was  of  importance.  I " 

But  I  could  n't  restrain  myself.  "  Mrs.  Belden,  where 
is  this  letter  ?  "  I  demanded.  "  Have  you  got  it  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  she;  "  I  gave  it  to  the  girl  yesterday;  I 
have  n't  seen  it  since." 

"  It  must  be  upstairs,  then.  Let  us  take  another 
look,"  and  I  hastened  towards  the  door. 

"  You  won't  find  it,"  said  Mr.  Gryce  at  my  elbow. 
1 '  /  have  looked.  There  is  nothing  but  a  pile  of  burned 
paper  in  the  corner.  By  the  way,  what  could  that  have 
been  ?  "  he  asked  of  Mrs.  Belden. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir.  She  had  n't  anything  to  burn 
unless  it  was  the  letter." 

"  We  will  see  about  that,"  I  muttered,  hurrying  up 
stairs  and  bringing  down  the  wash-bowl  with  its  con 
tents.  "  If  the  letter  was  the  one  I  saw  in  your  hand 
at  the  post-office,  it  was  in  a  yellow  envelope. ' ' 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Yellow  envelopes  burn  differently  from  white  paper. 
I  ought  to  be  able  to  tell  the  tinder  made  by  a  yellow 


The  Problem  Solved  347 

envelope  when  I  see  it.  Ah,  the  letter  has  been  de 
stroyed  ;  here  is  a  piece  of  the  envelope, "  and  I  drew 
out  of  the  heap  of  charred  scraps  a  small  bit  less  burnt 
than  the  rest,  and  held  it  up. 

"  Then  there  is  no  use  looking  here  for  what  the  let 
ter  contained,"  said  Mr.  Gryce,  putting  the  wash-bowl 
aside.  "  We  will  have  to  ask  you,  Mrs.  Belden." 

"  But  I  don't  know.  It  was  directed  to  me,  to  be 
sure ;  but  Hannah  told  me,  when  she  first  requested  me 
to  teach  her  how  to  write,  that  she  expected  such  a 
letter,  so  I  did  n't  open  it  when  it  came,  but  gave  it  to 
her  just  as  it  was." 

"  You,  however,  stayed  by  to  see  her  *ead  it  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  was  in  too  much  of  a  flurry.  Mr.  Ray 
mond  had  just  come  and  I  had  no  time  to  think  of  her. 
My  own  letter,  too,  was  troubling  me." 

"  But  you  surely  asked  her  some  questions  about  it 
before  the  day  was  out  ?  " 

* '  Yes,  sir,  when  I  went  up  with  her  tea  things ;  but 
she  had  nothing  to  say.  Hannah  could  be  as  reticent 
as  any  one  I  ever  knew,  when  she  pleased.  She  did  n't 
even  admit  it  was  from  her  mistress." 

"  Ah!  then  you  thought  it  was  from  Miss  Leaven- 
worth  ?" 

"  Why,  yes,  sir;  what  else  was  I  to  think,  seeing 
that  mark  in  the  corner  ?  Though,  to  be  sure,  it  might 
have  been  put  there  by  Mr.  Clavering,"  she  thought 
fully  added. 

"  You  say  she  was  cheerful  yesterday  ;  was  she  so 
after  receiving  this  letter  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  as  far  as  I  could  see.  I  was  n't  with 
her  long  ;  the  necessity  I  felt  of  doing  something  with 
the  box  in  my  charge — but  perhaps  Mr.  Raymond 
told  you  ?  " 


348          The  Leavenvrorth  Case 

Mr.  Gryce  nodded. 

**  It  was  an  exhausting  evening,  and  quite  put 
Hannah  out  of  my  head,  but " 

"  Wait!  "  cried  Mr.  Gryce,  and  beckoning  me  into  a 
corner,  he  whispered,  '*  Now  comes  in  that  experience 
of  Q's.  While  you  are  gone  from  the  house,  and  before 
Mrs.  Belden  sees  Hannah  again,  he  has  a  glimpse  of 
the  girl  bending  over  something  in  the  corner  of  her 
room  which  may  very  fairly  be  the  wash-bowl  we  found 
there.  After  which,  he  sees  her  swallow,  in  the  most 
lively  way,  a  dose  of  something  from  a  bit  of  paper. 
Was  there  anything  more  ?  " 

"No,"  saiill. 

"  Very  well,  then,"  he  cried,  going  back  to  Mrs. 
Belden.  "  But " 

"  But  when  I  went  up-Ftairs  to  bed,  I  thought  of  the 
girl,  and  going  to  her  door  opened  it.  The  light  was 
extinguished,  and  she  seemed  asleep,  so  I  closed  it  again 
and  came  out." 

<(  Without  speaking  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Did  you  notice  how  she  was  lying  ?  " 

"  Not  particular^.     I  think  on  her  back." 

"  In  something  of  the  same  position  in  which  she 
was  found  this  morning  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  that  is  all  you  can  tell  us,  either  of  her  letter 
or  her  mysterious  death  ?  " 

"All,  sir." 

Mr.  Gryce  straightened  himself  up. 

"  Mrs.  Belden,"  said  he,  "  you  know  Mr.  Clavering's 
handwriting  when  you  see  it  ?  " 

"I  do." 

*•  And  Miss  Leaven  worth's  ?  " 


The  Problem  Solved  349 

"  Yes,  sir." 

1 '  Now,  which  of  the  two  was  upon  the  envelope  of 
the  letter  you  gave  Hannah  ?  " 

"  I  could  n't  say.  It  was  a  disguised  handwriting 
and  might  have  been  that  of  either  ;  but  I  think ' ' 

"  Well?" 

"  That  it  was  more  like  hers  than  his,  though  it 
was  n't  like  hers  either." 

With  a  smile,  Mr.  Gryce  enclosed  the  confession  in 
his  hand  in  the  envelope  in  which  it  had  been  found. 
"  You  remember  how  large  the  letter  was  which  you 
gave  her  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it  was  large,  very  large  ;  one  of  the  largest 
sort." 

"  And  thick?" 

"  O  yes  ;  thick  enough  for  two  letters." 

"  I/arge  enough  and  thick  enough  to  contain  this  ?  '* 
laying  the  confession,  folded  and  enveloped  as  it  was, 
before  her." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  giving  it  a  look  of  startled  amazement, 
"  large  enough  and  thick  enough  to  contain  that." 

Mr.  Gryce' s  eyes,  bright  as  diamonds,  flashed  around 
the  room,  and  finally  settled  upon  a  fly  traversing  my 
coat-sleeve.  ' '  Do  you  need  to  ask  now, ' '  he  whispered, 
in  a  low  voice,  "  where,  and  from  whom,  this  so-called 
confession  comes  ?  " 

Mr.  Gryce  allowed  himself  one  moment  of  silent 
triumph,  then  rising,  began  folding  the  papers  on  the 
table  and  putting  them  in  his  pocket. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  I  asked,  hurriedly 
approaching. 

He  took  me  by  the  arm  and  led  me  across  the  hall 
into  the  sitting-room.  "  I  am  going  back  to  New 


35°          The  Leavenworth  Case 

York.  I  am  going  to  pursue  this  matter.  I  am  going 
to  find  out  from  whom  came  the  poison  which  killed 
this  girl,  and  by  whose  hand  this  vile  forgery  of  a  con 
fession  was  written." 

"  But/'  said  I,  rather  thrown  off  my  balance  by  all 
this,  "  Q  and  the  coroner  will  be  here  presently,  won't 
you  wait  to  see  them  ?  " 

"  No;  clues  such  as  are  given  here  must  be  followed 
while  the  trail  is  hot ;  I  can't  afford  to  wait." 

"  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  they  have  already  come,"  I 
remarked,  as  a  tramping  of  feet  without  announced 
that  some  one  stood  at  the  door. 

;*  That  is  so,"  he  assented,  hastening  to  let  them  in. 

Judging  from  common  experience,  we  had  every  rea 
son  to  fear  that  an  immediate  stop  would  be  put  to  all 
proceedings  on  our  part,  as  soon  as  the  coroner  was  in 
troduced  upon  the  scene.  But  happily  for  us  and  the 

interest  at  stake,  Dr.  Fink,  of  R ,  proved  to  be  a 

very  sensible  man.  He  had  only  to  hear  a  true  story 
of  the  affair  to  recognize  at  once  its  importance  and 
the  necessity  of  the  most  cautious  action  in  the  matter. 
Further,  by  a  sort  of  sympathy  with  Mr.  Gryce,  all  the 
more  remarkable  that  he  had  never  seen  him  before,  he 
expressed  himself  as  willing  to  enter  into  our  plans, 
offering  not  only  to  allow  us  the  temporary  use  of  such 
papers  as  we  desired,  but  even  undertaking  to  conduct 
the  necessary  formalities  of  calling  a  jury  and  institut 
ing  an  inquest  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  us  time  for  the 
investigations  we  proposed  to  make. 

The  delay  was  therefore  short.  Mr.  Gryce  was 
enabled  to  take  the  6.30  train  for  New  York,  and  I  to 
follow  on  the  10  P.M., — the  calling  of  a  jury,  ordering  of 
an  autopsy,  and  final  adjournment  of  the  inquiry  till  the 
following  Tuesday, having  all  taken  place  in  the  interim. 


XXXV 

FINE   WORK 

"  No  hinge  nor  loop 
To  hang  a  doubt  on  ! " 

"  But  yet  the  pity  of  it,  lago !  Oh,  lago,  the  pity  of  it,  lago.' 

Othello. 

ONE  sentence  dropped  by  Mr.  Gryce  before  leaving 
R had  prepared  me  for  his  next  move. 

"  The  clue  to  this  murder  is  supplied  by  the  paper 
on  which  the  confession  is  written.  Find  from  whose 
desk  or  portfolio  this  especial  sheet  was  taken,  and  you 
find  the  double  murderer,"  he  had  said. 

Consequently,  I  was  not  surprised  when,  upon  visiting 
his  house,  early  the  next  morning,  I  beheld  him  seated 
before  a  table  on  which  lay  a  lady's  writing-desk  and 
a  pile  of  paper,  till  told  the  desk  was  Eleanore's.  Then 
I  did  show  astonishment.  '  *  What, ' '  said  I,  ' '  are  you 
not  satisfied  yet  of  her  innocence  ?  " 

*  *  O  yes ;  but  one  must  be  thorough.  No  conclu- 
sion  is  valuable  which  is  not  preceded  by  a  full  and 
complete  investigation.  Why,"  he  cried,  casting  his 
eyes  complacently  towards  the  fire-tongs,  * '  I  have  even 
been  rummaging  through  Mr.  Clavering's  effects, 
though  the  confession  bears  the  proof  upon  its  face  that 
it  could  not  have  been  written  by  him.  It  is  not  enough 
to  look  for  evidence  where  you  expect  to  find  it.  You 
must  sometimes  search  for  it  where  you  don't.  Now," 


35  2  The  Leavenworth  Case 

said  he,  drawing  the  desk  before  him,  "  I  don't  antici 
pate  finding  anything  here  of  a  criminating  character  ; 
but  it  is  among  the  possibilities  that  I  may  ;  and  that 
Vis  enough  for  a  detective. ' * 

""^Did  you  see  Miss  Leaven worth  this  morning  ?  "  I 
asked,  as  he  proceeded  to  fulfil  his  intention  by  empty 
ing  the  contents  of  the  desk  upon  the  table. 

"  Yes  ;  I  was  unable  to  procure  what  I  desired  with 
out  it.  And  she  behaved  very  handsomely,  gave  me 
the  desk  with  her  own  hands,  and  never  raised  an  ob 
jection.  To  be  sure,  she  had  little  idea  what  I  was 
looking  for  ;  thought,  perhaps,  I  wanted  to  make  sure 
it  did  not  contain  the  letter  about  which  so  much  has 
been  said.  But  it  would  have  made  but  little  difference 
if  she  had  known  the  truth.  This  desk  contains 
nothing  we  want." 

"  Was  she  well  ;  and  had  she  heard  of  Hannah's 
sudden  death  ?  "  I  asked,  in  my  irrepressible  anxiety. 
'  Yes,  and  feels  it,  as  you  might  expect  her  to.  But 
let  us  see  what  we  have  here,"  said  he,  pushing  aside 
the  desk,  and  drawing  towards  him  the  stack  of  paper 
I  have  already  referred  to.  "I  found  this  pile,  just  as 
you  see  it,  in  a  drawer  of  the  library  table  at  Miss 
Mary  Leaven  worth's  house  in  Fifth  Avenue.  If  I  am 
not  mistaken,  it  will  supply  us  with  the  clue  we  want." 

«  But " 

"  But  this  paper  is  square,  while  that  of  the  confession 
is  of  the  size  and  shape  of  commercial  note  ?  I  know; 
but  you  remember  the  sheet  used  in  the  confession 
was  trimmed  down.  Let  us  compare  the  quality." 

Taking  the  confession  from  his  pocket  and  the  sheet 
from  the  pile  before  him,  he  carefully  compared  them, 
then  held  them  out  for  my  inspection.  A  glance 
showed  them  to  be  alike  in  color. 


The  Problem  Solved  353 

"  Hold  them  up  to  the  light,"  said  he. 

I  did  so  ;  the  appearance  presented  by  both  was  pre 
cisely  alike. 

"  Now  let  us  compare  the  ruling."  And,  laying 
them  both  down  on  the  table,  he  placed  the  edges  of 
the  two  sheets  together.  The  lines  on  the  one  accom 
modated  themselves  to  the  lines  on  the  other  ;  and  that 
question  was  decided. 

His  triumph  was  assured.  "  I  was  convinced  of  it," 
said  he.  "  From  the  moment  I  pulled  open  that 
drawer  and  saw  this  mass  of  paper,  I  knew  the  end  was 
come. ' ' 

"  But,"  I  objected,  in  my  old  spirit  of  combativeness, 
"  is  n't  there  any  room  for  doubt  ?  This  paper  is  of 
the  commonest  kind.  Every  family  on  the  block  might 
easily  have  specimens  of  it  in  their  library." 

"  That  is  n't  so,"  he  said.  "It  is  letter  size,  and 
that  has  gone  out.  Mr.  Leavenworth  used  it  for  his 
/nanuscript,  or  I  doubt  if  it  would  have  been  found  in 
his  library.  But,  if  you  are  still  incredulous,  let  us  see 
what  can  be  done,"  and  jumping  up,  he  carried  the 
confession  to  the  window,  looked  at  it  this  way  and 
that,  and,  finally  discovering  what  he  wanted,  came 
back  and,  laying  it  before  me,  pointed  out  one  of  the 
lines  of  ruling  which  was  markedly  heavier  than  the 
rest,  and  another  which  was  so  faint  as  to  be  almost 
undistinguishable.  "  Defects  like  these  often  run 
through  a  number  of  consecutive  sheets,"  said  he. 
"  If  we  could  find  the  identical  half -quire  from  which 
this  was  taken,  I  might  show  you  proof  that  would 
dispel  every  doubt,"  and  taking  up  the  one  that  lay  on 
top,  he  rapidly  counted  the  sheets.  There  were  but 
eight.  "  It  might  have  been  taken  from  this  one," 
said  he  ;  but,  upon  looking  closely  at  the  ruling,  he 
23 


354          The  Leavenworth  Case 

found  it  to  be  uniformly  distinct.  "  Humph  !  that 
won't  do  !  "  came  from  his  lips. 

The  remainder  of  the  paper,  some  dozen  or  so  half- 
quires,  looked  undisturbed.  Mr.  Gryce  tapped  his 
fingers  on  the  table  and  a  frown  crossed  his  face. 
"  Such  a  pretty  thing,  if  it  could  have  been  done  !  " 
he  longingly  exclaimed.  Suddenly  he  took  up  the 
next  half-quire.  "  Count  the  sheets,"  said  he,  thrust 
ing  it  towards  me,  and  himself  lifting  another. 

I  did  as  I  was  bid.     "  Twelve." 

He  counted  his  and  laid  it  down.  "  Go  on  with  the 
rest, ' '  he  cried. 

I  counted  the  sheets  in  the  next ;  twelve.  He 
counted  those  in  the  one  following,  and  paused. 
"  Eleven  ! " 

"  Count  again,"  I  suggested. 

He  counted  again,  and  quietly  put  them  aside.  "  I 
made  a  mistake,"  said  he. 

But  he  was  not  to  be  discouraged.  Taking  another 
half-quire,  he  went  through  with  the  same  operation  ; 
— in  vain.  With  a  sigh  of  impatience  he  flung  it  down 
on  the  table  and  looked  up.  "  Halloo  !  "  he  cried, 
"what  is  the  matter?" 

"  There  are  but  eleven  sheets  in  this  package,"  I 
said,  placing  it  in  his  hand. 

The  excitement  he  immediately  evinced  was  con 
tagious.  Oppressed  as  I  was,  I  could  not  resist  his 
eagerness.  "  Oh,  beautiful  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Oh, 
beautiful  !  See  !  the  light  on  the  inside,  the  heavy  one 
on  the  outside,  and  both  in  positions  precisely  corre 
sponding  to  those  on  this  sheet  of  Hannah's.  What 
do  you  think  now  ?  Is  any  further  proof  necessary  ?  " 

"  The  veriest  doubter  must  succumb  before  this," 
returned  I. 


The  Problem  Solved  355 

With  something  like  a  considerate  regard  for  my 
emotion,  he  turned  away.  '*  I  am  obliged  to  congrat 
ulate  myself,  notwithstanding  the  gravity  of  the  dis 
covery  that  has  been  made,"  said  he.  "  It  is  so  neat, 
so  very  neat,  and  so  conclusive.  I  declare  I  am  my 
self  astonished  at  the  perfection  of  the  thing.  But 
what  a  woman  that  is  ! ' '  he  suddenly  cried,  in  a  tone  of 
the  greatest  admiration.  "  What  an  intellect  she  has  ! 
what  shrewdness  !  what  skill  !  I  declare  it  is  almost  a 
pity  to  entrap  a  woman  who  has  done  as  well  as  this  — 
taken  a  sheet  from  the  very  bottom  of  the  pile,  trimmed 
it  into  another  shape,  and  then,  remembering  the  girl 
could  n't  write,  put  what  she  had  to  say  into  coarse, 
awkward  printing,  Hannah-like.  Splendid 7  or  would 
have  been,  if  any  other  man  than  myself  had  had  this 
thing  in  charge. ' '  And,  all  animated  and  glowing  with 
his  enthusiasm,  he  eyed  the  chandelier  above  him  as  if 
it  were  the  embodiment  of  his  own  sagacity. 

Sunk  in  despair,  I  let  him  go  on. 

"  Could  she  have  done  any  better  ?  "  he  now  asked. 
"  Watched,  circumscribed  as  she  was,  could  she  have 
done  any  better  ?  I  hardly  think  so  ;  the  fact  of  Han 
nah's  having  learned  to  write  after  she  left  here  was 
fatal.  No,  she  could  not  have  piovided  against  that 
contingency." 

"  Mr.  Gryce,"  I  here  interposed,  unable  to  endure 
this  any  longer;  "did  you  have  an  interview  with 
Miss  Mary  Leavenworth  this  morning  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  he;  "  it  was  not  in  the  line  of  my  present 
purpose  to  do  so.  I  doubt,  indeed,  if  she  knew  I  was 
in  her  house.  A  servant  maid  who  has  a  grievance  is 
a  very  valuable  assistant  to  a  detective.  With  Molly 
at  my  side,  I  did  n't  need  to  pay  my  respects  to  the 
mistress." 


356  The  Leavenworth  Case 

*'  Mr.  Gryce,"  I  asked,  after  another  moment  of 
silent  self-congratulation  on  his  part,  and  of  desperate 
self-control  on  mine,  "  what  do  you  propose  to  do  now  ? 
You  have  followed  your  clue  to  the  end  and  are  satisfied. 
Such  knowledge  as  this  is  the  precursor  of  action." 

"  Humph  !  we  will  see,"  he  returned,  going  to  his 
private  desk  and  bringing  out  the  box  of  papers  which 

we  had  no  opportunity  of  looking  at  while  in  R . 

"  First  let  us  examine  these  documents,  and  see  if  they 
do  not  contain  some  hint  which  may  be  of  service  to 
us."  And  taking  out  the  dozen  or  so  loose  sheets 
which  had  been  torn  from  Eleanore's  Diary,  he  began 
turning  them  over. 

While  he  was  doing  this,  I  took  occasion  to  examine 
the  contents  of  the  box.  I  found  them  to  be  precisely 
what  Mrs.  Belden  had  led  me  to  expect, — a  certificate 
of  marriage  between  Mary  and  Mr.  Clavering  and  a 
half- dozen  or  more  letters.  While  glancing  over  the 
former,  a  short  exclamation  from  Mr.  Gryce  startled 
me  into  looking  up. 

"What  is  it?"  I  cried. 

He  thrust  into  my  hand  the  leaves  of  Eleanore's 
Diary.  "  Read,"  said  he.  "  Most  of  it  is  a  repetition 
of  what  you  have  already  heard  from  Mrs.  Belden, 
though  given  from  a  different  standpoint  ;  but  there 
is  one  passage  in  it  which,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  opens 
up  the  way  to  an  explanation  of  this  murder  such  as  we 
have  not  had  yet.  Begin  at  the  beginning  ;  you  won't 
find  it  dull." 

Dull  !  Kleanore's  feelings  and  thoughts  during  that 
anxious  time,  dull  ! 

Mustering  up  my  self-possession,  I  spread  out  the 
leaves  in  their  order  and  commenced  : 

"  R ,  July  6,-" 


The  Problem  Solved  357 

"  Two  days  after  they  got  there,  you  perceive,"  Mr. 
Gryce  explained. 

" —  A  gentleman  was  introduced  to  us  to-day  upon 
the  piazza,  whom  I  cannot  forbear  mentioning  ;  first, 
because  he  is  the  most  perfect  specimen  of  manly  beauty 
I  ever  beheld,  and  second!}',  because  Mary,  who  is 
usually  so  voluble  where  gentlemen  are  concerned,  had 
nothing  to  say  when,  in  the  privacy  of  our  own  apart 
ment,  I  questioned  her  as  to  the  effect  his  appearance 
and  conversation  had  made  upon  her.  The  fact  that 
he  is  an  Englishman  may  have  something  to  do  with 
this  ;  Uncle's  antipathy  to  every  one  of  that  nation  be 
ing  as  well  known  to  her  as  to  me.  But  somehow  I 
cannot  feel  satisfied  of  this.  Her  experience  with 
Charlie  Somerville  has  made  me  suspicious.  What  if 
the  story  of  last  summer  were  to  be  repeated  here,  with 
an  Englishman  for  the  hero  !  But  I  will  not  allow  my 
self  to  contemplate  such  a  possibility.  Uncle  will 
return  in  a  few  days,  and  then  all  communication  with 
one  who,  however  prepossessing,  is  of  a  family  and 
race  with  whom  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  unite  our 
selves,  must  of  necessity  cease.  I  doubt  if  I  should 
have  thought  twice  of  all  this  if  Mr.  Claveririg  had 
not  betrayed,  upon  his  introduction  to  Mary,  such 
intense  and  unrestrained  admiration. 

''July  8.  The  old  story  is  to  be  repeated.  Mary 
not  only  submits  to  the  attentions  of  Mr.  Clavering, 
but  encourages  them.  To-day  she  sat  two  hours  at  the 
piano  singing  over  to  him  her  favorite  songs,  and 
to-night —  But  I  will  not  put  down  every  trivial  cir 
cumstance  that  comes  under  my  observation  ;  it  is  un 
worthy  of  me.  And  yet,  how  can  I  shut  my  eyes  when 
the  happiness  of  so  many  I  love  is  at  stake  ! 

"  July  ii.    If  Mr.  Clavering  is  not  absolutely  in  love 


The  Leaven  worth  Case 


with  Mary,  he  is  on  the  verge  of  it.  He  is  a  very  fine- 
looking  man,  and  too  honorable  to  be  trifled  with  in 
this  reckless  fashion. 

"  July  13.  Mary's  beauty  blossoms  like  the  rose. 
She  was  absolutely  wonderful  to-night  in  scarlet  and 
silver.  I  think  her  smile  the  sweetest  I  ever  beheld, 
and  in  this  I  am  sure  Mr.  Clavering  passionately  agrees 
with  me  ;  he  never  looked  away  from  her  to-night. 
But  it  is  not  so  easy  to  read  her  heart.  To  be  sure,  she 
appears  anything  but  indifferent  to  his  fine  appearance, 
strong  sense,  and  devoted  affection.  But  did  she  not 
deceive  us  into  believing  she  loved  Charlie  Somerville  ? 
In  her  case,  blush  and  smile  go  for  little,  I  fear. 
Would  it  not  be  wiser  under  the  circumstances  to  say, 
I  hope  ? 

"  July  17.  Oh,  my  heart  !  Mary  came  into  my  room 
this  evening,  and  absolutely  startled  me  by  falling  at 
my  side  and  burying  her  face  in  my  lap.  '  Oh,  Klea- 
nore,  Eleanore  !  '  she  murmured,  quivering  with  what 
seemed  to  me  very  happy  sobs.  But  when  I  strove  to 
lift  her  head  to  my  breast,  she  slid  from  my  arms,  and 
drawing  herself  up  into  her  old  attitude  of  reserved 
pride,  raised  her  hand  as  if  to  impose  silence,  and 
haughtily  left  the  room.  There  is  but  one  interpreta 
tion  to  put  upon  this.  Mr.  Clavering  has  expressed 
his  sentiments,  and  she  is  filled  with  that  reckless  de 
light  which  in  its  first  flush  makes  one  insensible  to  the 
existence  of  barriers  which  have  hitherto  been  deemed 
impassable.  When  will  Uncle  come  ? 

"  July  1  8.  I^ittle  did  I  think  when  I  wrote  the  above 
that  Uncle  was  already  in  the  house.  He  arrived  un 
expectedly  on  the  last  train,  and  came  into  my  room 
just  as  I  was  putting  away  my  diary.  Looking  a  little 
care-worn,  he  took  me  in  his  arms  and  then  asked  for 


The  Problem  Solved  359 

Mary.  I  dropped  my  head,  and  could  not  help  stam 
mering  as  I  replied  that  she  was  in  her  own  room.  In 
stantly  his  love  took  alarm,  and  leaving  me,  he  hastened 
to  her  apartment,  where  I  afterwfjds  learned  he  came 
upon  her  sitting  abstractedly  befftfe  her  dressing-table 
with  Mr.  Clavering's  family  ring  on  her  finger.  I  do 
not  know  what  followed.  An  unhappy  scene,  I  fear, 
for  Mary  is  ill  this  morning,  and  Uncle  exceedingly 
melancholy  and  stern. 

* '  Afternoon.  We  are  an  unhappy  family  !  Uncle 
not  only  refuses  to  consider  for  a  moment  the  question 
of  Mary's  alliance  with  Mr.  Clavering,  but  even  goes 
so  far  as  to  demand  his  instant  and  unconditional  dis 
missal.  The  knowledge  of  this  came  to  me  in  the  most 
distressing  way.  Recognizing  the  state  of  affairs,  but 
secretly  rebelling  against  a  prejudice  which  seemed 
destined  to  separate  two  persons  otherwise  fitted  for 
each  other,  I  sought  Uncle's  presence  this  morning 
after  breakfast,  and  attempted  to  plead  their  cause. 
But  he  almost  instantly  stopped  me  with  the  remark, 
'  You  are  the  last  one,  Eleanore,  who  should  seek  to 
promote  this  marriage. '  Trembling  with  apprehension, 
I  asked  him  why.  '  For  the  reason  that  by  so  doing 
you  work  entirely  for  your  own  interest.'  More  and 
more  troubled,  I  begged  him  to  explain  himself.  *  I 
mean,'  said  he,  *  that  if  Mary  disobeys  me  by  marrying 
this  Englishman,  I  shall  disinherit  her,  and  substitute 
your  name  for  hers  in  niy  will  as  well  as  in  my  affection.' 
For  a  moment  everything  swam  before  my  eyes.  '  You 
will  never  make  me  so  wretched  ! '  I  entreated.  *  I  will 
make  you  my  heiress,  if  Mary  persists  in  her  present 
determination,5  he  declared,  and  without  further  word 
sternly  left  the  room.  What  could  I  do  but  fall  on  my 
knees  and  pray  I  Of  all  in  this  miserable  house,  I  am 


360          The  Leavenworth  Case 

the  most  wretched.  To  supplant  her!  But  I  shall  not 
be  called  upon  to  do  it ;  Mary  will  give  up  Mr. 
Glavering. ' ' 

"  There  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Gryce.  "  What  do  you 
think  of  that  ?  Is  n't  it  becoming  plain  enough  what 
was  Mary's  motive  for  this  murder  ?  But  go  on;  let  us 
hear  what  followed. ' ' 

With  sinking  heart,  I  continued.  The  next  entry 
is  dated  July  19,  and  runs  thus  : 

"  I  was  right.  After  a  long  struggle  with  Uncle's 
invincible  will,  Mary  has  consented  to  dismiss  Mr. 
Clavering.  I  was  in  the  room  when  she  made  known 
her  decision,  and  I  shall  never  forget  our  Uncle's  look 
of  gratified  pride  as  he  clasped  her  in  his  arms  and  called 
her  his  own  True  Heart.  He  has  evidently  been  very 
much  exercised  over  this  matter,  and  I  cannot  but  feel 
greatly  relieved  that  affairs  have  terminated  so  satis 
factorily.  But  Mary  ?  What  is  there  in  her  manner 
that  vaguely  disappoints  me  ?  I  cannot  say.  I  only 
know  that  I  felt  a  powerful  shrinking  overwhelm  me 
when  she  turned  her  face  to  me  and  asked  if  I  were 
satisfied  now.  But  I  conquered  my  feelings  and  held 
out  my  hand.  She  did  not  take  it. 

4 '  July  26.  How  long  the  days  are  !  The  shadow  of 
our  late  trial  is  upon  me  yet ;  I  cannot  shake  it  off.  I 
seem  to  see  Mr.  Clavering's  despairing  face  wherever  I 
go.  How  is  it  that  Mary  preserves  her  cheerfulness  ? 
If  she  does  not  love  him,  I  should  think  the  respect 
which  she  must  feel  for  his  disappointment  would  keep 
her  from  levity  at  least. 

"  Uncle  has  gone  away  again.  Nothing  I  could  say 
sufficed  to  keep  him. 

"July  28.  It  has  all  come  out.  Mary  has  only 
nominally  separated  from  Mr,  Clavering ;  she  still 


The  Problem  Solved  361 

cherishes  the  idea  of  one  day  uniting  herself  to  him  in 
marriage.  The  fact  was  revealed  to  me  in  a  strange 
way  not  necessary  to  mention  here;  and  has  since  been 
confirmed  by  Mary  herself.  '  I  admire  the  man/  she 
declares,  '  and  have  no  intention  of  giving  him  up.' 
'  Then  why  not  tell  Uncle  so  ?  '  I  asked.  Her  only 
answer  was  a  bitter  smile  and  a  short,-—*  I  leave  that 
for  you  to  do.' 

' '  July  30.  Midnight.  Worn  completely  out,  but 
before  my  blood  cools  let  me  write.  Mary  is  a  wife.  I 
have  just  returned  from  seeing  her  give  her  hand  to 
Henry  Clavering.  Strange  that  I  can  write  it  without 
quivering  when  my  whole  soul  is  one  flush  of  indigna 
tion  and  revolt.  But  let  me  state  the  facts.  Having 
left  my  room  for  a  few  minutes  this  morning,  I  returned 
to  find  on  my  dressing-table  a  note  from  Mary  in  which 
she  informed  me  that  she  was  going  to  take  Mrs.  Belden 
for  a  drive  and  would  not  be  back  for  some  hours.  Con 
vinced,  as  I  had  every  reason  to  be,  that  she  was  on  her 
way  to  meet  Mr.  Clavering,  I  only  stopped  to  put  on 
my  hat " 

There  the  Diary  ceased. 

"She  was  probably  interrupted  by  Mary  at  this 
point,"  explained  Mr.  Gryce.  "  But  we  have  come 
upon  the  one  thing  we  wanted  to  know.  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth  threatened  to  supplant  Mary  with  Kleanore  if 
she  persisted  in  marrying  contrary  to  his  wishes.  She 
did  so  marry,  and  to  avoid  the  consequences  of  her  act 
she  - — " 

"  Say  no  more,"  I  returned,  convinced  at  last.  "  It 
is  only  too  clear." 

Mr.  Gryce  rose. 

"  But  the  writer  of  these  words  is  saved,"  I  went  on, 
trying  to  grasp  the  one  comfort  left  me.  *  *  No  one  who 


362          The  Leavenworth  Case 

reads  this  Diary  will  ever  dare  to  insinuate  she  is  capa. 
ble  of  committing  a  crime." 

1  *  Assuredly  not ;  the  Diary  settles  that  matter 
effectually.'' 

I  tried  to  be  man  enough  to  think  of  that  and  noth 
ing  else.  To  rejoice  in  her  deliverance,  and  let  every 
other  consideration  go;  but  in  this  I  did  not  succeed. 
"  But  Mary,  her  cousin,  almost  her  sister,  is  lost,"  I 
muttered. 

Mr.  Gryce  thrust  his  hands  into  his  pockets  and,  for 
the  first  time,  showed  some  evidence  of  secret  disturb 
ance.  *  *  Yes,  I  am  afraid  she  is ;  I  really  am  afraid  she 
is."  Then  after  a  pause,  during  which  I  felt  a  certain 
thrill  of  vague  hope  :  "  Such  an  entrancing  creature 
too !  It  is  a  pity,  it  positively  is  a  pity !  I  declare,  now 
that  the  thing  is  worked  up,  I  begin  to  feel  almost  sorry 
we  have  succeeded  so  well.  Strange,  but  true.  If  there 
was  the  least  loophole  out  of  it, "  he  muttered.  "But 
there  is  n't.  The  thing  is  clear  as  A,  B,  C. "  Suddenly 
he  rose,  and  began  pacing  the  floor  very  thoughtfully, 
casting  his  glances  here,  there,  and  everywhere,  except 
at  me,  though  I  believe  now,  as  then,  my  face  was  all 
he  saw. 

"  Would  it  be  a  very  great  grief  to  you,  Mr.  Ray 
mond,  if  Miss  Mary  I^eaven worth  should  be  arrested  on 
this  charge  of  murder  ?  "  he  asked,  pausing  before  a 
sort  of  tank  in  which  two  or  three  disconsolate-looking 
fishes  were  slowly  swimming  about. 

"  Yes,"  said  I,  "it  would  ;  a  very  great  grief." 

"Yet  it  must  be  done,"  said  he,  though  with  a 
strange  lack  of  his  usual  decision.  "As  an  honest 
official,  trusted  to  bring  the  murderer  of  Mr.  Jveaven- 
worth  to  the  notice  of  the  proper  authorities,  I  have 
<0t  to  do  it." 


The  Problem  Solved  363 

Again  that  strange  thrill  of  hope  at  my  heart  induced 
by  his  peculiar  manner. 

' '  Then  my  reputation  as  a  detective !  I  ought  surely 
to  consider  that.  I  am  not  so  rich  or  so  famous  that  I 
can  afford  to  forget  all  that  a  success  like  this  may 
bring  me.  No,  lovely  as  she  is,  I  have  got  to  push  it 
through."  But  even  as  he  said  this,  he  became  still 
more  thoughtful,  gazing  down  into  the  murky  depths 
of  the  wretched  tank  before  him  with  such  an  intent- 
ness  I  half  expected  the  fascinated  fishes  to  rise  from 
the  water  and  return  his  gaze.  What  was  in  his  mind  ? 

After  a  little  while  he  turned,  his  indecision  utterly 
gone.  "  Mr.  Raymond,  come  here  again  at  three.  I 
shall  then  have  my  report  ready  for  the  Superintendent. 
I  should  like  to  show  it  to  you  first,  so  don't  fail  me." 

There  was  something  so  repressed  in  his  expression, 
I  could  not  prevent  myself  from  venturing  one  question. 
"  Is  your  mind  made  up  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,"  he  returned,  but  in  a  peculiar  tone,  and  with 
a  peculiar  gesture. 

"  And  you  are  going  to  make  the  arrest  you  speak 
of?" 

"  Come  at  three  ! " 


. 


« 

^  ^ 


u* 


^.^VA-VJL 

. 

fcA    t  - 

GATHERED  THREADS 


s  s     e  sor  an        e  o 

Merry  Wives  of  Windsor. 


r"This  is  the  short  and  the  long  of  it 


at  the  hour  named,  I  made  my  appear- 
1  ance  at  Mr.  Gryce's  door.  I  found  him  awaiting 
me  on  the  threshold. 

"  I  have  met  you,"  said  he  gravely,  "  for  the  purpose 
of  requesting  you  not  to  speak  during  the  coming  inter 
view.  I  am  to  do  the  talking  ;  you  the  listening. 
Neither  are  you  to  be  surprised  at  anything  I  may  do 
or  say.  I  am  in  a  facetious  mood  "  —  he  did  not  look 
so  —  '*  and  may  take  it  into  my  head  to  address  you  by 
another  name  than  your  own.  If  I  do,  don't  mind  it. 
Above  all,  don't  talk:  remember  that."  And  without 
waiting  to  meet  my  look  of  doubtful  astonishment,  he 
led  me  softly  up-stairs. 

The  room  in  which  I  had  been  accustomed  to  meet 
him  was  at  the  top  of  the  first  flight,  but  he  took  me 
past  that  into  what  appeared  to  be  the  garret  story, 
where,  after  many  cautionary  signs,  he  ushered  me  into 
a  room  of  singularly  strange  and  unpromising  appear 
ance.  In  the  first  place,  it  was  darkly  gloomy,  being 
lighted  simply  by  a  very  dim  and  dirty  {.'kylight. 
Next,  it  was  hideously  empty  ;  a  pine  table  ai-i  two 
hard-backed  chairs,  set  face  to  face  at  each  end  t  *  it, 
being  the  only  articles  in  the  room.  Lastly,  it  v  13 

S&A 


The  Problem  Solved  365 

surrounded  by  several  closed  doors  with  blurred  and 
ghostly  ventilators  over  their  tops  which,  being  round, 
looked  like  the  blank  eyes  of  a  row  of  staring  mummies. 
Altogether  it  was  a  lugubrious  spot,  and  in  the  present 
state  of  iny  mind  made  me  feel  as  if  something  unearthly 
and  threatening  lay  crouched  in  the  very  atmosphere. 
Nor,  sitting  there  cold  and  desolate,  could  I  imagine 
that  the  sunshine  glowed  without,  or  that  life,  beauty, 
and  pleasure  paraded  the  streets  below. 

Mr.  Gryce's  expression,  as  he  took  a  seat  and  beck 
oned  me  to  do  the  same,  may  have  had  something  to 
do  with  this  strange  sensation,  it  was  so  mjTsteriously 
and  sombrely  expectant. 

"  You  '11  not  mind  the  room,"  said  he,  in  so  muffled 
a  tone  I  scarcely  heard  him.  "  It 's  an  awful  lonesome 
spot,  I  know;  but  folks  with  such  matters  before  them 
must  n't  be  too  particular  as  to  the  places  in  which  they 
hold  their  consultations,  if  they  don't  want  all  the  world 
to  know  as  much  as  they  do.  Smith,"  and  he  gave 
me  an  admonitory  shake  of  his  finger,  while  his  voice 
took  a  more  distinct  tone,  "  I  have  done  the  business  ; 
the  reward  is  mine  ;  the  assassin  of  Mr.  Leavenworth 
is  found,  and  in  two  hours  will  be  in  custody.  Do  you 
want  to  know  who  it  is  ?  "  leaning  forward  with  every 
appearance  of  eagerness  in  tone  and  expression. 

I  stared  at  him  in  great  amazement.  Had  anything 
new  corae  to  light  ?  any  great  change  taken  place  in  his 
conclusions  ?  All  this  preparation  could  not  be  for  the 
purpose  of  acquainting  me  with  what  I  already  knew, 
yet 

He  cut  short  my  conjectures  with  a  low,  expressive 
chuckle.  "  It  was  a  long  chase,  I  tell  you,"  raising  his 
voice  still  more;  "  a  tight  go  ;  a  woman  in  the  business 
too;  but  all  the  women  in  the  world  can't  pull  the  wool 


366          The  Leavenworth  Case 

over  the  eyes  of  Ebenezer  Gryce  when  he  is  on  a  trail ; 
and  the  assassin  of  Mr.  L,eavenworth  and  " —  here  his 
voice  became  actually  shrill  in  his  excitement — "  and 
of,  Hannah  Chester  is  found. 

I/ "  Hush  !  "  he  went  on,  though  I  had  neither  spoken 
/nor  made  any  move;  "you  did  n't  know  Hannah 
Chester  was  murdered.  Well,  she  was  n't  in  one  sense 
of  the  word,  but  in  another  she  was,  and  by  the  same 
hand  that  killed  the  old  gentleman.  How  do  I  know 
this  ?  Look  here  !  This  scrap  of  paper  was  found  on 
the  floor  of  her  room  ;  it  had  a  few  particles  of  white 
powder  sticking  to  it ;  those  particles  were  tested  last 
night  and  found  to  be  poison.  But  you  say  the  girl 
took  it  herself,  that  she  was  a  suicide.  You  are  right, 
she  did  take  it  herself,  and  it  was  a  suicide;  but  who 
terrified  her  into  this  act  of  self-destruction  ?  Why, 
the  one  who  had  the  most  reason  to  fear  her  testimony, 
of  course.  But  the  proof,  you  say.  Well,  sir,  this  girl 
left  a  confession  behind  her,  throwing  the  onus  of  the 
whole  crime  on  a  certain  party  believed  to  be  innocent ; 
this  confession  was  a  forged  one,  known  from  three 
facts  ;  first,  that  the  paper  upon  which  it  was  written 
was  unobtainable  by  the  girl  in  the  place  where  she  was; 
secondly,  that  the  words  used  therein  were  printed  in 
coarse,  awkward  characters,  whereas  Hannah,  thanks 
to  the  teaching  of  the  woman  under  whose  care  she  has 
been  since  the  murder,  had  learned  to  write  very  well ; 
thirdly,  that  the  story  told  in  the  confession  does  not 
agree  with  the  one  related  by  the  girl  herself.  Now 
the  fact  of  a  forged  confession  throwing  the  guilt  upon 
an  innocent  party  having  been  found  in  the  keeping  of 
this  ignorant  girl,  killed  by  a  dose  of  poison,  taken  with 
the  fact  here  stated,  that  on  the  morning  of  the  day  on 
which  she  killed  herself  the  girl  received  from  some  one 


The  Problem  Solved  367 

manifestly  acquainted  with  the  customs  of  the  Leaven- 
worth  family  a  letter  large  enough  and  thick  enough 
to  contain  the  confession  folded,  as  it  was  when  found, 
makes  it  almost  certain  to  my  mind  that  the  murderer 
of  Mr.  Leavenworth  sent  this  powder  and  this  so-called 
confession  to  the  girl,  meaning  her  to  use  them  precisely 
as  she  did:  for  the  purpose  of  throwing  off  suspicion 
from  the  right  track  and  of  destroying  herself  at  the 
same  time  ;  for,  as  you  know,  dead  men  tell  no  tale:  ' 

He  paused  and  looked  at  the  dingy  skylight  above 
us.  Why  did  the  air  seem  to  grow  heavier  and  heavier  ? 
Why  did  I  shudder  in  vague  apprehension  ?  I  knew 
all  this  before;  why  did  it  strike  me,  then,  as  something 
new  ? 

"But  who  was  this?   you  ask.     Al^Jjiat  ^  the 
secret ;  that  is  the  bit  of  knowledge  which  is  to  bring 
me  fame  and  fortune.    But,  secret  or  not,  I  don't  mine 
telling  you  " ;  lowering  his  voice  and  r^pi^ly  raising  it 
again.    "  The  fact  is,  I  can't  keep  it  to  myself ;  it  burns 
like  a  new  dollar  in  my  pocket.     Sk.iith,  my  boy,  the/ 
murderer  of  Mr.  Leavenworth — b  at  stay,  tvGo)does  th 
world  say  it  is  ?    \$£hon>  do  the  papers  point  at  anc 
shake  their  heads  over  ?    A  'woman  !  a  young,  beauti 
ful,  bewitching  woman !     Fla,  ha,  ha !    The  papers  are 
right;  it  if  a  woman;  y  •- r g,  beautiful,  and  bewitching 
too.     But  whatjpjie  ?  -.  's  the  question.     Ther& 

is  more  than  one  wonv  ;    3  affair.     Since  Hannah's 

death  I  have  heard  it  -  ;r.^nly  advanced  that  she  was  the 
guilty  party  in  the  cri  .fle  :  bah  !  Others  cry  it  is  the 
niece  who  was  so  urn  quail  y  dealt  with  by  her  uncle  in 
his  will :  bah  !  agari ,  But  folks  are  not  without  some 
justification  for  this  1'atter  assertion.  Eleanore  Leaven- 
worth  did  know  m< jre  of  this  matter  than  appeared. 
Worse  than  that,  I^leanore  Leavenworth  stands  in  a 


368  The  Leavenworth  Case 

position  of  positive  peril  to-day.     If  you  don't  think 
so,  let  me  show  you  what  the  detectives  have  against 
.     her. 

"  First,  there  is  the  fact  that  a  handkerchief,  with 
her  name  on  it,  was  found  stained  with  pistol  grease 
upon  the  scene  of  murder;  a  place  which  she  explicitly 
denies  having  entered  for  twenty-four  hours  previous  to 
the  discovery  of  the  dead  body. 

"  Secondly,  the  fact  that  she  not  only  evinced  terror 
when  confronted  with  this  bit  of  circumstantial  evi 
dence,  but  manifested  a  decided  disposition,  both  at  this 
time  and  others,  to  mislead  inquiry,  shirking  a  direct 
answer  to  some  questions  and  refusing  all  answer  to 
others. 

'  Thirdly,  that  an  attempt  was  made  by  her  to  de 
stroy  a  certain  letter  evidently  relating  to  this  crime. 

4 '  Fourthly,  that  the  key  to  the  library  door  was  seen 
in  her  possession. 

"  All  this,  taken  with  the  fact  that  the  fragments  of 
the  letter  which  .this  same  lady  attempted  to  destroy 
within  an  hour  after'  the  inquest  were  afterwards  put 
together,  and  were  foufid  to  contain  a  bitter  denuncia 
tion  of  one  of  Mr.  Leavt-i worth's  nieces,  by  a  gentle 
man  we  will  call  x —  in  other  words,  an  unknown 
quantity — makes  out  a  dark  a*se  against  hu ,  especially 
as  after  investigations  revealed  the  fact  that  a  secret 
underlay  the  history  of  the  I/eave^ worth  family.  That, 
unknown  to  the  world  at  large,  and  Mr.  L,eavenworth 
in  particular,  a  marriage  ceremony  had  been  performed 

a  year  before  in  a  little  town  called  j? between  a 

Miss  Leavenworth  and  this  sam  e.  x.  That,  in  other 
words,  the  unknown  gentleman  wtl<>>  'ln  the  letter  partly 
destroyed  by  Miss  Kleanore  L,eav  enworth,  complained 
to  Mr.  Leavenworth  of  the  treatment  received  by  him 


The  Problem  Solved  369 

from  one  of  his  nieces,  was  in  fact  the  secret  husband 
of  that  niece.  And  that,  moreover,  this  same  gentle 
man,  under  an  assumed  name,  called  on  the  night  of 
the  murder  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Leavenworth  and  asked 
for  Miss  Eleanore. 

"  Now  you  see,  with  all  this  against  her,  Eleanore 
Leavenworth  is  lost  if  it  cannot  be  proved,  first  that  the 
articles  testifying  against  her,  viz. :  the  handkerchief, 
letter,  and  key,  passed  after  the  murder  through  other 
hands,  before  reaching  hers ;  and  secondly,  that  some 
one  else  had  even  a  stronger  reason  than  she  for  desir 
ing  Mr.  Leavenworth's  death  at  this  time. 

* '  Smith,  my  boy,  both  of  these  hypotheses  have  been 
established  by  me.  By  dint  of  moling  into  old  secrets, 
and  following  unpromising  clues,  I  have  finally  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  not  Eleanore  Leavenworth,  dark 
as  are  the  appearances  against  her,  but  another  woman, 
beautiful  as  she,  and  fully  as  interesting,  is  the  true 
criminal.  In  short,  that  her  cousin,  the  exquisite 
Mary,  is  the  murderer  of  Mr.  Leavenworth,  and  by 
inference  of  Hannah  Chester  also." 

He  brought  this  out  with  such  force,  and  with  such  a 
look  of  triumph  and  appearance  of  having  led  up  to  it, 
that  I  was  for  the  moment  dumbfounded,  and  started 
as  if  I  had  not  known  what  he  was  going  to  say.  The 
stir  I  made  seemed  to  awake  an  echo.  Something  like 
a  suppressed  cry  was  in  the  air  about  me.  All  the  room 
appeared  to  breathe  horror  and  dismay.  Yet  when,  in 
the  excitement  of  this  fancy,  I  half  turned  round  to 
look,  I  found  nothing  but  the  blank  eyes  of  those  dull 
ventilators  staring  upon  me. 

"  You  are  taken  aback  !  "  Mr.  Gryce  went  on.  "  I 
don't  wonder.  Every  one  else  is  engaged  in  w; etching 
the  movements  of  Eleanore  Leavenworth  ;  I  only  know 


370          The  Leavenworth  Case 

where  to  put  my  hand  upon  the  real  culprit.  You 
shake  your  head  !  "  (Another  fiction.)  "  You  don't 
believe  me!  Think  I  am  deceived.  Ha,  ha!  Kbenezer 
Gryce  deceived  after  a  month  of  hard  work  !  You  are 
as  bad  as  Miss  Leavenworth  herself,  who  has  so  little 
faith  in  my  sagacity  that  she  offered  me,  of  all  men,  an 
enormous  reward  if  I  would  find  for  her  the  assassin  of 
her  uncle  !  But  that  is  neither  here  nor  there  ;  you 
have  your  doubts,  and  you  are  waiting  for  me  to  solve 
them.  Well,  nothing  is  easier.  Know  first  that  on  the 
morning  of  the  inquest  I  made  one  or  two  discoveries 
not  to  be  found  in  the  records,  viz. :  that  the  handker 
chief  picked  up,  as  I  have  said,  in  Mr.  Leavenworth' s 
library,  had  notwithstanding  its  stains  of  pistol  grease, 
a  decided  perfume  lingering  about  it.  Going  to  the 
dressing-table  of  the  two  ladies,  I  sought  for  that  per 
fume,  and  found  it  in  Mary's  room,  not  Kleauore's. 
This  led  me  to  examine  the  pockets  of  the  dresses  re 
spectively  worn  by  them  the  evening  before.  In  that 
of  Eleanore  I  found  a  handkerchief,  presumably  the  one 
she  had  carried  at  that  time.  But  in  Mary's  there  was 
none,  nor  did  I  see  any  lying  about  her  room  as  if 
tossed  down  on  her  retiring.  The  conclusion  I  drew 
from  this  was,  that  she,  and  not  Eleanore,  had  carried 
the  handkerchief  into  her  uncle's  room,  a  conclusion 
emphasized  by  the  fact  privately  communicated  to  me 
by  one  of  the  servants,  that  Mary  was  in  Elean ore's 
room  when  the  basket  of  clean  clothes  was  brought  up 
with  this  handkerchief  lying  on  top. 

"  But  knowing  the  liability  we  are  to  mistake  in  such 
matters  as  these,  I  made  another  search  in  the  library, 
and  came  across  a  very  curious  thing.  Lying  on  the 
table  v  as  a  penknife,  and  scattered  on  the  floor  beneath, 
in  close  proximity  to  the  chair,  were  two  or  three  minute 


The  Problem  Solved  371 

portions  of  wood  freshly  chipped  off  from  the  leg  of  the 
table  ;  all  of  which  looked  as  if  some  one  of  a  nervous 
disposition  had  been  sitting  there,  whose  hand  in  a 
moment  of  self-forgetfulness  had  caught  up  the  knife 
and  unconsciously  whittled  the  table,  A  little  thing, 
you  say  ;  but  when  the  question  is,  which  of  two  ladies, 
one  of  a  calm  and  self-possessed  nature,  the  other  rest 
less  in  her  ways  and  excitable  in  her  disposition,  was  in 
a  certain  spot  at  a  certain  time,  it  is  these  little  things 
that  become  almost  deadly  in  their  significance.  No 
one  who  has  been  with  these  two  women  an  hour  can 
hesitate  as  to  whose  delicate  hand  made  that  cut  in  Mr. 
Leaven worth's  library  table. 

"  But  we  are  not  done.  I  distinctly  overheard  Elea- 
nore  accuse  her  cousin  of  this  deed.  Now  such  a  wo 
man  as  Kleanore  Leaven  worth  has  proved  herself  to 
be  never  would  accuse  a  relative  of  crime  without  the 
strongest  and  most  substantial  reasons.  First,  she 
must  have  been  sure  her  cousin  stood  in  a  position  of 
such  emergency  that  nothing  but  the  death  of  her 
uncle  could  release  her  from  it ;  secondly,  that  her 
cousin's  character  was  of  such  a  nature  she  would  not 
hesitate  to  relieve  herself  from  a  desperate  emergency 
by  the  most  desperate  of  means  ;  and  lastly,  been  in 
possession  of  some  circumstantial  evidence  against  her 
cousin,  seriously  corroborative  of  her  suspicions.  Smith, 
all  this  was  true  of  Bleanore  Leavenworth.  As  to  the 
character  of  her  cousin,  she  has  had  ample  proof  of  her 
ambition,  love  of  money,  caprice  and  deceit,  it  having 
been  Mary  Leavenworth,  and  not  Kleanore,  as  was  first 
supposed,  who  had  contracted  the  secret  marriage 
already  spoken  of.  Of  the  critical  position  in  which 
she  stood,  let  the  threat  once  made  by  Mr.  Leavenworth 
to  substitute  her  cousin's  name  for  hers  in  his  will  in 


372  The  Leavenworth  Case 

case  she  had  married  this  x  be  remembered,  as  well  as 
the  tenacity  with  which  Mary  clung  to  her  hopes  of 
future  fortune  ;  while  for  the  corroborative  testimony 
of  her  guilt  which  Eleanore  is  supposed  to  have  had, 
remember  that  previous  to  the  key  having  been  found 
in  Eleanore' s  possession,  she  had  spent  some  time  in 
her  cousin's  room  ;  and  that  it  was  at  Mary's  fireplace 
the  half-burned  fragments  of  that  letter  were  found, — 
and  you  have  the  outline  of  a  report  which  in  an  hour's 
time  from  this  will  lead  to  the  arrest  of  Mary  Leaven- 
worth  as  the  assassin  of  her  uncle  and  benefactor." 

A  silence  ensued  which,  like  the  darkness  of  Egypt, 
could  be  felt;  then  a  great  and  terrible  cry  rang  through 
the  room,  and  a  man's  form,  rushing  from  I  knew  not 
where,  shot  by  me  and  fell  at  Mr.  Gryce's  feet  shrieking 
out : 

"  It  is  a  lie  !  a  lie  !  Mary  Leavenworth  is  innocent 
as  a  babe  unborn.  I  am  the  murderer  of  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth.  I  !  I  !  I  !  " 

It  was  Trueman  Harwell. 

*$S 


XXXVII 

CULMINATION 

«'  Saint  seducing  gold." 

Romeo  and  Juliet. 

"  When  our  actions  do  not, 
Our  fears  do  make  us  traitors." 

Macbeth. 

I  NEVER  saw  such  a  look  of  mortal  triumph  on  the 
face  of  a  man  as  that  which  crossed  the  counte 
nance  of  the  detective. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  this  is  unexpected,  but  not  wholly 
unwelcome.  I  am  truly  glad  to  learn  that  Miss  Leaven- 
worth  is  innocent ;  but  I  must  hear  some  few  more  par 
ticulars  before  I  shall  be  satisfied.  Get  up,  Mr.  Harwell, 
and  explain  yourself.  If  you  are  the  murderer  of  Mr. 
Leavenworth,  how  comes  it  that  things  look  so  black 
against  everybody  but  yourself  ?  ' ' 

But  in  the  hot,  feverish  eyes  which  sought  him  from 
the  writhing  form  at  his  feet,  there  was  mad  anxiety 
and  pain,  but  little  explanation.  Seeing  him  making 
unavailing  efforts  to  speak,  I  drew  near. 

"  Lean  on  me,"  said  I,  lifting  him  to  his  feet. 

His  face,  relieved  forever  from  its  mask  of  repression, 
turned  towards  me  with  the  look  of  a  despairing  spirit. 
"  Save  !  save  !  "  he  gasped.  "  Save  her — Mary— they 
are  sending  a  report  —  stop  it  !  " 

"  Yes,"  broke  in  another  voice.  "  If  there  is  a  man 
373 


374          The  Leavenworth  Case 

here  who  believes  in  God  and  prizes  woman* s  honor, 
let  him  stop  the  issue  of  that  report."  And  Henry 
Clavering,  dignified  as  ever,  but  in  a  state  of  extreme 
agitation,  stepped  into  our  midst  through  an  open  door 
at  our  right. 

But  at  the  sight  of  his  face,  the  man  in  our  arms 
quivered,  shrieked,  and  gave  one  bound  that  would 
have  overturned  Mr.  Clavering,  herculean  of  frame  as 
he  was,  had  not  Mr.  Gryce  interposed. 

"  Wait  !  "  he  cried  ;  and  holding  back  the  secretary 
with  one  hand  —  where  was  his  rheumatism  now  ! — he 
put  the  other  in  his  pocket  and  drew  thence  a  document 
which  he  held  up  before  Mr.  Clavering.  "  It  has  not 
gone  yet,"  said  he;  "be  easy.  And  you,"  he  went  on, 
turning  towards  Trueman  Harwell,  "  be  quiet,  or " 

His  sentence  was  cut  short  by  the  man  springing  from 
his  grasp.  "  Let  me  go  !  "  he  shrieked.  "  Let  me  have 
my  revenge  on  him  who,  in  face  of  all  I  have  done  for 
Mary  Leavenworth,  dare^  to  call  her  his  wife  !  Let 
me — "  But  at  this  point  he  paused,  his  quivering 
frame  stiffening  into  stone,  and  his  clutching  hands, 
outstretched  for  his  rival's  throat,  falling  heavily  back. 
"  Hark!  "  said  he,  glaring  over  Mr.  Clavering's  shoul 
der  :  "  it  is  she  !  I  hear  her  !  I  feel  her  !  She  is  on 
the  stairs!  she  is  at  the  door!  she — "  a  low,  shuddering 
sigh  of  longing  and  despair  finished  the  sentence  :  the 
door  opened,  and  Mary  Leavenworth  stood  before 
us! 

It  was  a  moment  to  make  young  hairs  turn  gray. 
To  see  her  face,  so  pale,  so  haggard,  so  wild  in  its  lixed 
horror,  turned  towards  Henry  Clavering,  to  the  utter 
ignoring  of  the  real  actor  in  this  most  horrible  scene  ! 
Trueman  Harwell  could  not  stand  it. 

"  Ah,  ah!  "  he  cried;  "  look  at  her!  cold,  cold--  not 


The  Problem  Solved  375 

one  glance  for  me,  though  I  have  just  drawn  the  halter 
from  her  neck  and  fastened  it  about  my  own ! ' ' 

And,  breaking  from  the  clasp  of  the  man  who  in  his 
jealous  rage  would  now  have  withheld  him,  he  fell  on 
his  knees  before  Mary,  clutching  her  dress  with  frenzied 
hands.  "  You  shall  look  at  me,"  he  cried;  "  you  shall 
listen  to  me!  I  will  not  lose  body  and  soul  for  nothing. 
Mary,  they  said  you  were  in  peril  !  I  could  not  endure 
that  thought,  so  I  uttered  the  truth, —  yes,  though  I 
knew  what  the  consequence  would  be, — and  all  I  want 
now  is  for  you  to  say  you  believe  me,  when  I  swear  that 
I  only  meant  to  secure  to  you  the  fortune  you  so  much 
desired  ;  that  I  never  dreamed  it  would  come  to  this  : 
that  it  was  because  I  loved  you,  and  hoped  to  win  your 
love  in  return  that  I " 

But  she  did  not  seem  to  see  him,  did  not  seem  to  hear 
him.  Her  eyes  were  fixed  upon  Henry  Clavering  with 
an  awful  inquiry  in  their  depths,  and  none  but  he  could 
move  her. 

"  You  do  not  hear  me  !  "  shrieked  the  poor  wretch. 
* '  Ice  that  you  are,  you  would  not  turn  your  head  if  I 
should  call  to  you  from  the  depths  of  hell  ! ' ' 

But  even  this  cry  fell  unheeded.  Pushing  her  hands 
down  upon  his  shoulders  as  though  she  would  sweep 
some  impediment  from  her  path,  she  endeavored  to 
advance.  "  Why  is  that  man  here  ?  "  she  cried,  indi 
cating  her  husband  with  one  quivering  hand.  "  What 
has  he  done  that  he  should  be  brought  here  to  confront 
me  at  this  awful  time  ?  *  * 

"  I  told  her  to  come  here  to  meet  her  uncle's  mur 
derer,"  whispered  Mr.  Gryce  into  my  ear. 

But  before  I  could  reply  to  her,  before  Mr.  Clavering 
himself  could  murmur  a  word,  the  guilty  wretch  before 
her  had  started  to  his  feet. 


376  The  Leavenvvorth  Case 

"  Don't  you  know?  then  I  will  tell  you.  It  is  be* 
cause  these  gentlemen,  chivalrous  and  honorable  as 
they  consider  themselves,  think  that  you,  the  beauty 
and  the  Sybarite,  committed  with  your  own  white  hanc? 
the  deed  of  blood  which  has  brought  you  freedom  and 
fortune.  Yes,  yes,  this  man" —  turning  and  pointing 
at  me- — "  friend  as  he  has  made  himself  out  to  be, 
kindly  and  honorable  as  you  have  doubtless  believed 
him,  but  who  in  every  look  he  has  bestowed  upon  you, 
every  word  he  has  uttered  in  your  hearing  during  all 
these  four  horrible  weeks,  has  been  weaving  a  cord  for 
your  neck  —  thinks  you  the  assassin  of  your  uncle,  un 
knowing  that  a  man  stood  at  your  side  ready  to  sweep 
half  the  world  from  your  path  if  that  same  white  hand 

rose  in  bidding.     That  I " 

'You?"     Ah!  now  she  could  see  him:  now  she 
could  hear  him  ! 

"  Yes,"  clutching  her  robe  again  as  she  hastily  re 
coiled;  "  did  n't  you  know  it  ?  When  in  that  dreadful 
hour  of  your  rejection  by  your  uncle,  you  cried  aloud 
for  some  one  to  help  you,  did  n't  you  know " 

"  Don't  !  "  she  shrieked,  bursting  from  him  with  a 
look  of  unspeakable  horror.  "  Don't  say  that  !  Oh  !  " 
she  gasped,  "  is  the  mad  cry  of  a  stricken  woman  for 
aid  and  sympathy  the  call  for  a  murderer?"  And 
turning  away  in  horror,  she  moaned:  "  Who  that  ever 
looks  at  me  now  will  forget  that  a  man  —  such  a  man  ! 
—  dared  to  think  that,  because  I  was  in  mortal  per 
plexity,  I  would  accept  the  murder  of  my  best  friend  as 
a  relief  from  it!  "  Her  horror  was  unbounded.  "  Ob, 
what  a  chastisement  for  folly ! ' '  she  murmured.  ' '  What 
a  punishment  for  the  love  of  money  which  has  always 
been  my  curse  !  " 

Kenry  Clavering  could  no  longer  restrain  himself. 


The  Problem  Solved  377 

Leaping  to  her  side,  he  bent  over  her.  !<  Was  it 
nothing  but  folly,  Mary  ?  Are  you  guiltless  of  any 
deeper  wrong  ?  Is  there  no  link  of  complicity  between 
you  two  ?  Have  you  nothing  on  your  soul  but  an  in 
ordinate  desire  to  preserve  your  place  in  your  uncle's 
will,  even  at  the  risk  of  breaking  my  heart  and  wrong 
ing  your  noble  cousin  ?  Are  you  innocent  in  this 
matter  ?  Tell  me ! ' '  Laying  his  hand  on  her  head,  he 
pressed  it  slowly  back  and  gazed  into  her  eyes  ;  then, 
without  a  word,  took  her  to  his  breast  and  looked 
calmly  around  him. 

"  She  is  innocent  !  "  said  he. 

It  was  the  uplifting  of  a  stifling  pall.  No  one  in  the 
room,  unless  it  was  the  wretched  criminal  shivering 
before  us,  but  felt  a  sudden  influx  of  hope.  Bven 
Mary's  own  countenance  caught  a  glow.  "  Oh  !  "  she 
whispered,  withdrawing  from  his  arms  to  look  better 
into  his  face,  "  and  is  this  the  man  I  have  trifled  with, 
injured,  and  tortured,  till  the  very  name  of  Mary 
Leavenworth  might  well  make  him  shudder  ?  Is  this 
he  whom  I  married  in  a  fit  of  caprice,  only  to  forsake 
and  deny  ?  Henry,  do  you  declare  me  innocent  in  face 
of  all  you  have  seen  and  heard  ;  in  face  of  that  moan 
ing,  chattering  wretch  before  us,  and  my  own  quaking 
flesh  and  evident  terror  ;  with  the  remembrance  on 
your  heart  and  in  your  mind  of  the  letter  I  wrote  you 
the  morning  after  the  murder,  in  which  I  prayed  you 
to  keep  away  from  me,  as  I  was  in  such  deadly  danger 
the  least  hint  given  to  the  world  that  I  had  a  secret  to 
conceal  would  destroy  me  ?  Do  you,  can  you,  will 
you,  declare  me  innocent  before  God  and  the  world  ?  " 

44 1  do,"  said  he. 

A  light  such  as  had  never  visited  her  face  before 
passed  slowly  over  it.  '*  Then  God  forgive  me  the 


37$          The  Leaven  worth  Case 

wrong  I  have  done  this  noble  heart,  for  I  can  never 
forgive  myself!  Wait  !  "  said  she,  as  he  opened  his 
lips.  "  Before  I  accept  any  further  tokens  of  your 
generous  confidence,  let  me  show  you  what  I  am.  You 
shall  know  the  worst  of  the  woman  you  have  taken  to 
your  heart.  Mr.  Raymond,"  she  cried,  turning  to 
wards  me  for  the  first  time,  "  in  those  days  when,  with 
such  an  earnest  desire  for  my  welfare  (you  see  I  do  not 
believe  this  man's  insinuations),  you  sought  to  induce 
me  to  speak  out  and  tell  all  I  knew  concerning  this 
dreadful  deed,  I  did  not  do  it  because  of  my  selfish 
fears.  I  knew  the  case  looked  dark  against  me.  Klea- 
nore  had  told  me  so.  Eleanore  herself — and  it  was  the 
keenest  pang  I  had  to  endure  —  believed  me  guilty. 
She  had  her  reasons.  She  knew  first,  from  the  directed 
envelope  she  had  found  lying  underneath  my  uncle's 
dead  body  on  the  library  table,  that  he  had  been  en 
gaged  at  the  moment  of  death  in  summoning  his  lawyer 
to  make  that  change  in  his  will  which  would  transfer 
my  claims  to  her  ;  secondly,  that  notwithstanding  niy 
denial  of  the  same,  I  had  been  down  to  his  room  the 
night  before,  for  she  had  heard  my  door  open  and  my 
dress  rustle  as  I  passed  out.  But  that  was  not  all;  the 
key  that  every  one  felt  to  be  a  positive  proof  of  guilt 
wherever  found,  had  been  picked  up  by  her  from  the 
floor  of  my  room  ;  the  letter  written  by  Mr.  Clavering 
to  my  uncle  was  found  in  my  fire  ;  and  the  handker 
chief  which  she  had  seen  me  take  from  the  basket  of 
clean  clothes,  was  produced  at  the  inquest  stained  with 
pistol  grease.  I  could  not  account  for  these  things.  A 
web  seemed  tangled  about  my  feet.  I  could  not  stir 
without  encountering  some  new  toil.  I  knew  I  was 
innocent;  but  if  I  failed  to  satisfy  my  cousin  of  this, 
how  could  I  hope  to  convince  the  general  public,  if  once 


The  Problem  Solved  379 

called  upon  to  do  so.  Worse  still,  if  Eleanore,  with 
every  apparent  motive  for  desiring  long  life  to  our 
uncle,  was  held  in  such  suspicion  because  of  a  few  cir 
cumstantial  evidences  against  her,  what  would  I  not 
have  to  fear  if  these  evidences  were  turned  against  me, 
the  heiress  !  The  tone  and  manner  of  the  juryman  at 
the  inquest  that  asked  who  would  be  most  benefited  by 
my  uncle's  will  showed  but  too  plainly.  When,  there 
fore,  Eleanore,  true  to  her  heart's  generous  instincts, 
closed  her  lips  and  refused  to  speak  when  speech  would 
have  been  my  ruin,  I  let  her  do  it,  justifying  myself 
with  the  thought  that  she  had  deemed  me  capable  of 
crime,  and  so  must  bear  the  consequences.  Nor,  when 
I  saw  how  dreadful  these  were  likely  to  prove,  did  I 
relent.  Fear  of  the  ignominy,  suspense,  and  danger 
which  confession  would  entail  sealed  my  lips.  Only 
once  did  I  hesitate.  That  was  when,  in  the  last  con 
versation  we  had,  I  saw  that,  notwithstanding  appear 
ances,  you  believed  in  Eleanore' s  innocence,  and  the 
thought  crossed  me  you  might  be  induced  to  believe  in 
mine  if  I  threw  myself  upon  your  mercy.  But  just 
then  Mr.  Clavering  came;  and  as  in  a  flash  I  seemed 
to  realize  what  my  future  life  would  be,  stained  by  sus 
picion,  and,  instead  of  yielding  to  my  impulse,  went  so 
far  in  the  other  direction  as  to  threaten  Mr.  Clavering 
with  a  denial  of  our  marriage  if  he  approached  me  again 
till  all  danger  was  over. 

1  '  Yes,  he  will  tell  you  that  was  my  welcome  to  him 
when,  with  heart  and  brain  racked  by  long  suspense, 
he  came  to  my  door  for  one  word  of  assurance  that  the 
peril  I  was  in  was  not  of  my  own  making.  That  was 
the  greeting  I  gave  him  after  a  year  of  silence  every 
moment  of  which  was  torture  to  him.  But  he  forgives 
me  ;  I  see  it  in  his  eyes ;  I  hear  it  in  his  accents ;  and 


380          The  Leavenworth  Case 

you  —  oh,  if  in  the  long  years  to  come  you  can  forget 
what  I  have  made  Bleanore  suffer  by  my  selfish  fears  ; 
if  with  the  shadow  of  her  wrong  before  you,  you  cam 
by  the  grace  of  some  sweet  hope  think  a  little  less 
hardly  of  me,  do.  As  for  this  man  —  torture  could  no* 
be  worse  to  me  than  this  standing  with  him  in  the  same 
room — let  him  come  forward  and  declare  if  I  by  look  or 
word  have  given  him  reason  to  believe  I  understood 
his  passion,  much  less  returned  it." 

"  Why  ask  !  "  he  gasped.  "  Don't  you  see  it  was 
your  indifference  which  drove  me  mad?  To  stand 
before  you,  to  agonize  after  you,  to  follow  you  with 
thoughts  in  every  move  you  made:  to  know  my  soul 
was  welded  to  yours  with  bands  of  steel  no  fire  could 
melt,  no  force  destroy,  no  strain  dissever;  to  sleep  under 
the  same  roof,  sit  at  the  same  table,  and  yet  meet  not 
so  much  as  one  look  to  show  me  you  understood  !  It 
was  that  which  made  my  life  a  hell.  I  was  determined 
you  should  understand.  If  I  had  to  leap  into  a  pit  of 
flame,  you  should  know  what  I  was,  and  what  my  pas 
sion  for  you  was.  And  you  do.  You  comprehend  it 
all  now.  Shrink  as  you  will  from  my  presence,  cower 
as  you  may  to  the  weak  man  you  call  husband,  you  can 
never  forget  the  love  of  Trueman  Harwell ;  never  for 
get  that  love,  love,  love,  was  the  force  which  led  me 
down  into  your  uncle's  room  that  night,  and  lent  me 
will  to  pull  the  trigger  which  poured  all  the  wealth  you 
hold  this  day  into  your  lap.  Yes,"  he  went  on,  tower 
ing  in  his  preternatural  despair  till  even  the  noble  form 
of  Henry  Clavering  looked  dwarfed  beside  him,  "  every 
dollar  that  chinks  from  your  purse  shall  talk  of  me. 
Kvery  gew-gaw  which  flashes  on  that  haughty  head, 
too  haughty  to  bend  to  me,  shall  shriek  my  name  into 
your  ears.  Fashion,  pomp,  luxury,  —  you  will  have 


The  Problem  Solved  381 

them  all ;  but  till  gold  loses  its  glitter  and  ease  its 
attraction  you  will  never  forget  the  hand  that  gave 
them  to  you  !  " 

With  a  look  whose  evil  triumph  I  cannot  describe, 
he  put  his  hand  into  the  arm  of  the  waiting  detective, 
and  in  another  moment  would  have  been  led  from  the 
room  ;  when  Mary,  crushing  down  the  swell  of  emo 
tions  that  was  seething  in  her  breast,  lifted  her  head 
and  said  : 

"  No,  Truernan  Harwell;  I  cannot  give  you  even 
that  thought  for  your  comfort.  Wealth  so  laden  would 
bring  nothing  but  torture.  I  cannot  accept  the  torture, 
so  must  release  the  wealth.  From  this  day,  Mary 
Clavering  owns  nothing  but  what  comes  to  her  from 
the  husband  she  has  so  long  and  so  basely  wronged." 
And  raising  her  hands  to  her  ears,  she  tore  out  the  dia 
monds  which  hung  there,  and  flung  them  at  the  feet 
of  the  unfortunate  man. 

It  was  the  final  wrench  of  the  rack.  With  a  yell 
such  as  I  never  thought  to  listen  to  from  the  lips  of  a 
man,  he  flung  up  his  arms,  while  all  the  lurid  light  of 
madness  glared  on  his  face.  "  And  I  have  given 
my  soul  to  hell  for  a  shadow  !  "  he  moaned,  "  fcr  a 
shadow!  " 


"  Well,  that  is  the  best  day's  work  I  ever  did  !  Your 
congratulations,  Mr.  Raymond,  upon  the  success  of  the 
most  daring  game  ever  played  in  a  detective's  office." 

I  looked  at  the  triumphant  countenance  of  Mr.  Gryce 
in  amazement.  * '  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  I  cried  ;  ' '  did 
you  plan  all  this  ?  " 

"Did  I  plan  it?"  he  repeated.  "  Could  I  stand 
here,  seeing  how  things  have  turned  out,  if  I  had  not  ? 


382          The  Leavenworth  Case 

Mr.  Raymond,  let  us  be  comfortable.  You  are  a  gen 
tleman,  but  we  can  well  shake  hands  over  this.  I  have 
never  known  such  a  satisfactory  conclusion  to  a  bad 
piece  of  business  in  all  my  professional  career." 

We  did  shake  hands,  long  and  fervently,  and  then  I 
asked  him  to  explain  himself. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  there  has  always  been  one  thing 
that  plagued  me,  even  in  the  very  moment  of  my 
strongest  suspicion  against  this  woman,  and  that  was, 
the  pistol-cleaning  business.  I  could  not  reconcile  it 
with  what  I  knew  of  womankind.  I  could  not  make 
it  seem  the  act  of  a  woman.  Did  you  ever  know  a 
woman  who  cleaned  a  pistol  ?  No.  They  can  fire 
them,  and  do  ;  but  after  firing  them,  they  do  not  clean 
them.  Now  it  is  a  principle  which  every  detective 
recognizes,  that  if  of  a  hundred  leading  circumstances 
connected  with  a  crime,  ninety-nine  of  these  are  acts 
pointing  to  the  suspected  party  with  unerring  certainty, 
but  the  hundredth  equally  important  act  one  which 
that  person  could  not  have  performed,  the  whole  fabric 
of  suspicion  is  destroyed.  Recognizing  this  principle, 
then,  as  I  have  said,  I  hesitated  when  it  came  to  the 
point  of  arrest.  The  chain  was  complete;  the  links 
were  fastened;  but  one  link  was  of  a  different  size  and 
material  from  the  rest;  and  in  this  argued  a  break  in 
the  cliain.  I  resolved  to  give  her  a  final  chance.  Sum 
moning  Mr.  Clavering,  and  Mr.  Harwell,  two  persons 
'whom  I  had  no  reason  to  suspect,  but  who  were  the 
only  persons  beside  herself  who  could  have  committed 
this  crime,  being  the  only  persons  of  intellect  who  were 
in  the  house  or  believed  to  be,  at  the  time  of  the  mur 
der,  I  notified  them  separately  that  the  assassin  of  Mr. 
I/eavenworth  was  not  only  found,  but  was  about  to  be 
arrested  in  my  house,  and  that  if  they  wished  to  hear 


The  Problem  Solved  383 

the  confession  which  would  be  sure  to  follow,  they 
might  have  the  opportunity  of  doing  so  by  coming  here 
at  such  an  hour.  They  were  both  too  much  interested, 
though  for  very  different  reasons,  to  refuse  ;  and  I  suc 
ceeded  in  inducing  them  to  conceal  themselves  in  the 
two  rooms  from  which  you  saw  them  issue,  knowing 
that  if  either  of  them  had  committed  this  deed,  he  had 
done  it  for  the  love  of  Mary  Leavenworth,  and  conse 
quently  could  not  hear  her  charged  with  crime,  and 
threatened  with  arrest,  without  betraying  himself.  I 
did  not  hope  much  from  the  experiment ;  least  of  all 
did  I  anticipate  that  Mr.  Harwell  would  prove  to  be 
the  guilty  man  —  but  live  and  learn,  Mr.  Raymond* 
live  and  learn." 


,  £ 
t~*t 


s 

XXXVIII 

^ 

A  FULI,  CONFESSION 


*•  Between  the  acting  of  a  dreadful  thtag, 

And  the  first  motion,  all  the  interim  is 
I,ike  a  phantasma  or  a  hideous  dream  ; 
The  genius  and  the  mortal  instruments 
Are  then  in  council;  and  the  state  of  a  man, 
Ivike  to  a  little  Kingdom,  suffers  then 
The  nature  of  an  insurrection." 

Julius  Casar. 

1AM  not  a  bad  man  ;  I  am  only  an  intense  one.  Am- 
bition,  love,  jealousy,  hatred,  revenge  —  transitory 
emotions  with  some,  are  terrific  passions  with  me.  To 
be  sure,  they  are  quiet  and  concealed  ones,  coiled  ser 
pents  that  make  no  stir  till  aroused;  but  then,  deadly 
in  their  spring  and  relentless  in  their  action.  Those 
who  have  known  me  best  have  not  known  this.  My 
own  mother  was  ignorant  of  it.  Often  and  often  have 
I  heard  her  say  :  "  If  Trueman  only  had  more  sensi 
bility  !  If  Trueman  were  not  so  indifferent  to  every 
thing  !  In  short,  if  Trueman  had  more  power  in 
him!". 

It  was  the  same  at  school.  No  one  understood  me. 
They  thought  me  meek  ;  called  me  Dough -face.  For 
three  years  they  called  me  this,  then  I  turned  upon 
them.  Choosing  out  their  ringleader,  I  felled  him  to 
the  ground,  laid  him  on  his  back,  and  stamped  upon 
him.  He  was  handsome  before  my  foot  came  down  ; 
afterwards —  Well,  it  is  enough  he  never  called  me 


The  Problem  Solved  385 

Dough-face  again.  In  the  store  I  entered  soon  after,  I 
met  with  even  less  appreciation.  Regular  at  my  work 
and  exact  in  my  performance  of  it,  they  thought  me  a 
good  machine  and  nothing  more.  What  heart,  soul, 
and  feeling  could  a  man  have  who  never  sported,  never 
smoked,  and  never  laughed  ?  I  could  reckon  up  figures 
correctly,  but  one  scarcely  needed  heart  or  soul  for 
that.  I  could  even  write  day  by  day  and  month  by 
month  without  showing  a  flaw  in  my  copy  ;  but  that 
only  argued  I  was  no  more  than  they  intimated,  a  reg 
ular  automaton.  I  let  them  think  so,  with  the  certainty 
before  me  that  they  would  one  day  change  their  minds 
as  others  had  done.  The  fact  was,  I  loved  nobody  well 
enough,  not  even  myself,  to  care  for  any  man's  opinion. 
Life  was  well-nigh  a  blank  to  me  ;  a  dead  level  plain 
that  had  to  be  traversed  whether  I  would  or  not.  And 
such  it  might  have  continued  to  this  day  if  I  had  never 
met  Mary  L,eavenworth.  But  when,  some  nine  months 
since,  I  left  my  desk  in  the  counting-house  for  a  seat  in 
Mr.  I,eaven  worth's  library,  a  blazing  torch  fell  into 
my  soul  whose  flame  has  never  gone  out,  and  never 
will,  till  the  doom  before  me  is  accomplished. 

She  was  so  beautiful !  When,  on  that  first  evening,  I 
followed  my  new  employer  into  the  parlor,  and  saw 
this  woman  standing  up  before  me  in  her  half- alluring, 
half-appalling  charm,  I  knew,  as  by  a  lightning  flash, 
what  my  future  would  be  if  I  remained  in  that  house. 
She  was  in  one  of  her  haughty  moods,  and  bestowed 
upon  me  little  more  than  a  passing  glance.  But  her 
indifference  made  slight  impression  upon  me  then.  It 
was  enough  that  I  was  allowed  to  stand  in  her  presence 
and  look  unrebuked  upon  her  loveliness.  To  be  sure, 
it  was  like  gazing  into  the  flower- wreathed  crater  of  an 

awakening  volcano.    Fear  and  fascination  were  in  each 
25 


386  The  Leavenworth  Case 

moment  I  lingered  there  ;  but  fear  and  fascination 
made  the  moment  what  it  was,  and  I  could  not  have 
withdrawn  if  I  would. 

And  so  it  was  always.  Unspeakable  pain  as  well  as 
pleasure  was  in  the  emotion  with  which  I  regarded  her. 
Yet  for  all  that  I  did  not  cease  to  study  her  hour  by 
hour  and  day  by  day  ;  her  smiles,  her  movement,  her 
way  of  turning  her  head  or  lifting  her  eyelids.  I  had 
a  purpose  in  this.  I  wished  to  knit  her  beauty  so  firmly 
into  the  warp  and  woof  of  my  being  that  nothing  could 
ever  serve  to  tear  it  away.  For  I  saw  then  as  plainly 
as  now  that,  coquette  though  she  was,  she  would  never 
stoop  to  me.  No  ;  I  might  lie  down  at  her  feet  and  let 
her  trample  over  me  ;  she  would  not  even  turn  to  see 
what  it  was  she  had  stepped  upon.  I  might  spend 
days,  months,  years,  learning  the  alphabet  of  her 
wishes  ;  she  would  not  thank  me  for  my  pains  or  even 
raise  the  lashes  from  her  cheek  to  look  at  me  as  I 
passed.  I  was  nothing  to  her,  could  not  be  anything 
unless  —  and  this  thought  came  slowly  —  I  could  in 
some  way  become  her  master. 

Meantime  I  wrote  at  Mr.  Leavenworth 's  dictation 
and  pleased  him.  My  methodical  ways  were  just  to 
his  taste.  As  for  the  other  member  of  the  family,  Miss 
Eleanore  Leavenworth  —  she  treated  me  just  as  one  of 
her  proud  but  sympathetic  nature  might  be  expected  to 
do.  Not  familiarly,  but  kindly  ;  not  as  a  friend,  but 
as  a  member  of  the  household  whom  she  met  every  day 
at  table,  and  who,  as  she  or  any  one  else  could  see,  was 
none  too  happy  or  hopeful. 

Six  months  went  by.  I  had  learned  two  things  ; 
first,  that  Mary  Leavenworth  loved  her  position  as 
prospective  heiress  to  a  large  fortune  above  every  other 
earthly  consideration  ;  and  secondly,  that  she  was  in 


The  Problem  Solved  387 

the  possession  of  a  secret  which  endangered  that  posi 
tion.  What  this  was,  I  had  for  some  time  no  means  of 
knowing.  But  when  later  I  became  convinced  it  was 
one  of  love,  I  grew  hopeful,  strange  as  it  may  seem. 
For  by  this  time  I  had  learned  Mr.  L/eaven worth's  dis 
position  almost  as  perfectly  as  that  of  his  niece,  and 
knew  that  in  a  matter  of  this  kind  he  would  be  uncom 
promising  ;  and  that  in  the  clashing  of  these  two  wills 
something  might  occur  which  would  give  me  a  hold 
upon  her.  The  only  thing  that  troubled  me  was  the 
fact  that  I  did  not  know  the  name  of  the  man  in  whom 
she  was  interested.  But  chance  soon  favored  me  here. 
One  day  —  a  month  ago  now  —  I  sat  down  to  open  Mr. 
Leaven  worth's  mail  as  usual.  One  letter — shall  I  ever 
forget  it  ?  ran  thus  : 

"HOFFMAN  HOUSE, 

"March  i,  1876. 
"  MR.  HORATIO  LEAVEN  WORTH  : 

"DEAR  SIR, — You  have  a  niece  whom  you  love  and  trust, 
one,  too,  who  seems  worthy  of  all  the  love  and  trust  that  you 
or  any  other  man  can  give  her  ;  so  beautiful,  so  charming,  so 
tender  is  she  in  face,  form,  manner,  and  conversation.  But, 
dear  sir,  every  rose  has  its  thorn,  and  your  rose  is  no  exception 
to  this  rule.  Lovely  as  she  is,  charming  as  she  is,  tender  as  she 
is,  she  is  not  only  capable  of  trampling  on  the  rights  of  one  who 
trusted  her,  but  of  bruising  the  heart  and  breaking  the  spirit  of 
him  to  whom  she  owes  all  duty,  honor,  and  observance. 

"If  you  don't  believe  this,  ask  her  to  her  cruel,  bewitching 
face,  who  and  what  is  her  humble  servant,  and  yours. 

"HENRY  RITCHIE  CXAVERINGo" 

If  a  bombshell  had  exploded  at  my  feet,  or  the  evil 
one  himself  appeared  at  my  call,  I  would  not  have 
been  more  astounded.  Not  only  was  the  name  signed 
to  these  remarkable  words  unknown  to  me,  but  the 


i 


388  The  Leavenworth  Case 

epistle  itself  was  that  of  one  who  felt  himself  to  be  he* 
master  :  a  position  which,  as  you  know,  I  was  myself 
aspiring  to  occupy.  For  a  few  minutes,  then,  I  stood 
a  prey  to  feelings  of  the  bitterest  wrath  and  despair  ; 
then  I  grew  calm,  realizing  that  with  this  letter  in  my 
possession  I  was  virtually  the  arbitrator  of  her  destiny. 
Some  men  would  have  sought  her  there  and  then  and, 
by  threatening  to  place  it  in  her  uncle's  hand,  won 
from  her  a  look  of  entreaty,  if  no  more  ;  but  I  —  well, 
my  plans  went  deeper  than  that.  I  knew  she  would 
have  to  be  in  extremity  before  I  could  hope  to  win  her. 
She  must  feel  herself  slipping  over  the  edge  of  the 
precipice  before  she  would  clutch  at  the  first  thing 
offering  succor.  I  decided  to  allow  the  letter  to  pass 
into  my  employer's  hands.  But  it  had  been  opened! 
How  could  I  manage  to  give  it  to  him  in  this  condition 
without  exciting  his  suspicion  ?  I  knew  of  but  one  way ; 
to  let  him  see  me  open  it  for  what  he  would  consider 
the  first  time.  So,  waiting  till  he  came  into  the  room, 
I  approached  him  with  the  letter,  tearing  off  the  end 
of  the  envelope  as  I  came.  Opening  it,  I  gave  a  cur 
sory  glance  at  its  contents  and  tossed  it  down  on  the 
table  before  him. 

"  That  appears  to  be  of  a  private  character,"  said  I, 
"  though  there  is  no  sign  to  that  effect  on  the  en 
velope.  ' ' 

He  took  it  up  while  I  stood  there.  At  the  first  word 
he  started,  looked  at  me,  seemed  satisfied  from  my  ex 
pression  that  I  had  not  read  far  enough  to  realize  its 
nature,  and,  whirling  slowly  around  in  his  chair,  de 
voured  the  remainder  in  silence.  I  waited  a  moment, 
then  withdrew  to  rny  own  desk  One  minute,  two 
minutes  passed  in  silence;  he  was  evidently  rereading 
the  letter  ;  then  he  hurriedly  rose  and  left  the  room. 


The  Problem  Solved  389 

As  he  passed  me  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  his  face  in  the 
mirror.  The  expression  I  saw  there  did  not  tend  to 
lessen  the  hope  that  was  rising  in  my  breast. 

By  following  him  almost  immediately  up-stairs  I 
ascertained  that  he  went  directly  to  Mary's  room,  and 
when  in  a  few  hours  later  the  family  collected  around 
the  dinner  table,  I  perceived,  almost  without  looking 
up,  that  a  great  and  insurmountable  barrier  had  been 
raised  between  him  and  his  favorite  niece. 

Two  days  passed  ;  days  that  were  for  me  one  long 
and  unrelieved  suspense.  Had  Mr.  Leavenworth  an 
swered  that  letter  ?  Would  it  all  end  as  it  had  begun, 
without  the  appearance  of  the  mysterious  Clavering  on 
the  scene  ?  I  could  not  tell. 

Meanwhile  my  monotonous  work  went  on,  grinding 
my  heart  beneath  its  relentless  wheel.  I  wrote  and 
wrote  and  wrote,  till  it  seemed  as  if  my  life  blood  went 
from  me  with  every  drop  of  ink  I  used.  Always  alert 
and  listening,  I  dared  not  lift  my  head  or  turn  my  eyes 
at  any  unusual  sound,  lest  I  should  seem  to  be  watch 
ing.  The  third  night  I  had  a  dream  ;  I  have  already 
told  Mr.  Raymond  what  it  was,  and  hence  will  not 
repeat  it  here.  One  correction,  however,  I  wish  to 
make  in  regard  to  it.  In  my  statement  to  him  I  de 
clared  that  the  face  of  the  man  whom  I  saw  lift  his 
hand  against  my  employer  was  that  of  Mr.  Clavering. 
I  lied  when  I  said  this.  The  face  seen  by  me  in  my 
dream  was  my  own.  It  was  that  fact  which  made  it  so 
horrible  to  me.  In  the  crouching  figure  stealing  warily 
down-stairs,  I  saw  as  in  a  glass  the  vision  of  my  own 
form.  Otherwise  my  account  of  the  matter  was  true. 

This  vision  had  a  tremendous  effect  upon  me.  Was 
it  a  premonition  ?  a  forewarning  of  the  way  in  which  I 
was  to  win  this  coveted  creature  for  my  own  ?  Was 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


the  death  of  her  uncle  the  bridge  by  which  the  impasse 
able  gulf  between  us  might  be  spanned  ?  I  began  to 
think  it  might  be  ;  to  consider  the  possibilities  which 
could  make  th*s  the  only  path  to  my  elysium  ;  even 
went  so  far  as  to  picture  her  lovely  face  bending  grate 
fully  towards  me  through  the  glare  of  a  sudden  release 
from  some  emergency  in  which  she  stood.  One  thing 
was  sure  ;  if  thit  was  the  way  I  must  go,  I  had  at  least 
been  taught  how  to  tread  it  ;  and  all  through  the  dizzy, 
blurred  day  that  followed,  I  saw,  as  I  sat  at  my  work, 
repeated  visions  of  that  stealthy,  purposeful  figure 
stealing  down  the  stairs  and  entering  with  uplifted 
pistol  into  the  unconscious  presence  of  my  employer. 
I  even  found  myself  a  dozen  times  that  day  turning  my 
eyes  upon  the  door  through  which  it  was  to  come,  won 
dering  how  long  it  would  be  before  my  actual  form 
would  pause  there.  That  the  moment  was  at  hand  I 
did  not  imagine.  Even  when  I  left  him  that  night 
after  drinking  with  him  the  glass  of  sherry  mentioned 
at  the  inquest,  I  had  no  idea  the  hour  of  action  was  so 
near.  But  when,  not  three  minutes  after  going  up 
stairs,  I  caught  the  sound  of  a  lady's  dress  rustling 
through  the  hall,  and  listening,  heard  Mary  Leaven- 
worth  pass  my  door  on  her  way  to  the  library,  I  real 
ized  that  the  fatal  hour  was  come  ;  that  something  was 
going  to  be  said  or  done  in  that  room  which  would 
make  this  deed  necessary.  What  ?  I  determined  to 
ascertain.  Casting  about  in  my  mind  for  the  means  of 
doing  so,  I  remembered  that  the  ventilator  running 
up  through  the  house  opened  first  into  the  passage-way 
connecting  Mr.  Leaven  worth's  bedroom  and  library, 
and,  secondly,  into  the  closet  of  the  large  spare  room 
adjoining  mine.  Hastily  unlocking  the  door  of  the 
communication  between  the  rooms,  I  took  my  position 


The  Problem  Solved  39 l 

in  the  closet.  Instantly  the  sound  of  voices  reached 
my  ears  ;  all  was  open  below,  and  standing  there,  I 
was  as  much  an  auditor  of  what  went  on  between 
Mary  and  her  uncle  as  if  I  were  in  the  library  itself. 
And  what  did  I  hear  ?  Enough  to  assure  me  my  sus 
picions  were  correct  ;  that  it  was  a  moment  of  vital 
interest  to  her  ;  that  Mr.  L,eavenworth,  in  pursuance 
of  a  threat  evidently  made  some  time  since,  was  in  the 
act  of  taking  steps  to  change  his  will,  and  that  she  had 
come  to  make  an  appeal  to  be  forgiven  her  fault  and 
restored  to  his  favor.  What  that  fault  was,  I  did  not 
learn.  No  mention  was  made  of  Mr.  Clavering  as  her 
husband.  I  only  heard  her  declare  that  her  action  had 
been  the  result  of  impulse,  rather  than  love  ;  that  she 
regretted  it,  and  desired  nothing  more  than  to  be  free 
from  all  obligations  to  one  she  would  fain  forget,  and 
be  again  to  her  uncle  what  she  was  before  she  ever  saw 
this  man.  I  thought,  fool  that  I  was,  it  was  a  mere 
engagement  she  was  alluding  to,  and  took  the  insanest 
hope  from  these  words  ;  and  when,  in  a  moment  later 
I  heard  her  uncle  reply,  in  his  sternest  tone,  that  she 
had  irreparably  forfeited  her  claims  to  his  regard  and 
favor,  I  did  not  need  her  short  and  bitter  cry  of  shame 
and  disappointment,  or  that  low  moan  for  some  one  to 
help  her,  for  me  to  sound  his  death-knell  in  my  heart. 
Creeping  back  to  my  own  room,  I  waited  till  I  heard 
her  reascend,  then  I  stole  forth.  Calm  as  I  had  ever 
been  in  my  life,  I  went  down  the  stairs  just  as  I  had 
seen  myself  do  in  my  dream,  and  knocking  lightly  at 
the  library  door,  went  in.  Mr.  I^eavenworth  was  sit 
ting  in  his  usual  place  writing. 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  I  as  he  looked  up,  "  I  have  lost 
my  memorandum-book,  and  think  it  possible  I  may 
have  dropped  it  in  the  passage-way  when  I  went  for 


392  The  Leavenworth  Case 

the  wine/*  He  bowed,  and  I  hurried  past  him  into  the 
closet.  Once  there,  I  proceeded  rapidly  into  the  room 
beyond,  procured  the  pistol,  returned,  and  almost  be 
fore  I  realized  what  I  was  doing,  had  taken  up  my 
position  behind  him,  aimed,  and  fired.  The  result  was 
what  you  know.  Without  a  groan  his  head  fell  for 
ward  on  his  hands,  and  Mary  L,eavenworth  was  the 
virtual  possessor  of  the  thousands  she  coveted. 

My  first  thought  was  to  procure  the  letter  he  was 
writing.  Approaching  the  table,  I  tore  it  out  from  under 
his  hands,  looked  at  it,  saw  that  it  was,  as  I  expected,  a 
summons  to  his  lawyer,  and  thrust  it  into  my  pocket, 
together  with  the  letter  from  Mr.  Clavering,  which  I 
perceived  lying  spattered  with  blood  on  the  table  before 
me.  Not  till  this  was  done  did  I  think  of  myself,  or 
remember  the  echo  which  that  low,  sharp  report  must 
have  made  in  the  house.  Dropping  the  pistol  at  the 
side  of  the  murdered  man,  I  stood  ready  to  shriek  to 
any  one  who  entered  that  Mr.  L,eavenworth  had  killed 
himself.  But  I  was  saved  from  committing  such  a 
folly.  The  report  had  not  been  heard,  or  if  so,  had 
evidently  failed  to  create  an  alarm.  No  one  came,  and 
I  was  left  to  contemplate  my  work  undisturbed  and 
decide  upon  the  best  course  to  be  taken  to  avoid  detec 
tion.  A  moment's  study  of  the  wound  made  in  his 
head  by  the  bullet  convinced  me  of  the  impossibility 
of  passing  the  affair  off  as  a  suicide,  or  even  the  work 
of  a  burglar.  To  any  one  versed  in  such  matters  it  was 
manifestly  a  murder,  and  a  most  deliberate  one.  My 
one  hope,  then,  lay  in  making  it  as  mysterious  as  it 
was  deliberate,  by  destroying  all  clue  to  the  motive 
and  manner  of  the  deed.  Picking  up  the  pistol,  I  car 
ried  it  into  the  other  room  with  the  intention  of  clean 
ing  it,  but  finding  nothing  there  to  do  it  with,  came 


The  Problem  Solved  393 

back  for  the  handkerchief  I  had  seen  lying  on  the  floor 
at  Mr.  Leavenworth's  feet.  It  was  Miss  Eleanore's, 
but  I  did  not  know  it  till  I  had  used  it  to  clean  the 
barrel  ;  then  the  sight  of  her  initials  in  one  corner  so 
shocked  me  I  forgot  to  clean  the  cylinder,  and  only 
thought  of  how  I  could  do  away  with  this  evidence  of 
her  handkerchief  having  been  employed  for  a  purpose 
so  suspicious.  Not  daring  to  carry  it  from  the  room,  I 
sought  for  means  to  destroy  it;  but  finding  none,  com 
promised  the  matter  by  thrusting  it  deep  down  behind 
the  cushion  of  one  of  the  chairs,  in  the  hope  of  being 
able  to  recover  and  burn  it  the  next  day.  This  done, 
I  reloaded  the  pistol,  locked  it  up,  and  prepared  to 
leave  the  room.  But  here  the  horror  which  usually 
follows  such  deeds  struck  me  like  a  thunderbolt  and 
made  me  for  the  first  time  uncertain  in  my  action.  I 
locked  the  door  on  going  out,  something  I  should  never 
have  done.  Not  till  I  reached  the  top  of  the  stairs  did 
I  realize  my  folly  ;  and  then  it  was  too  late,  for  there 
before  me,  candle  in  hand,  and  surprise  written  on 
every  feature  of  her  face,  stood  Hannah,  one  of  the 
servants,  looking  at  me. 

"  Lor,  sir,  where  have  you  been  ?  "  she  cried,  but 
strange  to  say,  in  a  low  tone.  "  You  look  as  if  you 
had  seen  a  ghost. ' '  And  her  eyes  turned  suspiciously 
to  the  key  which  I  held  in  my  hand. 

I  felt  as  if  some  one  had  clutched  me  round  the 
throat.  Thrusting  the  key  into  my  pocket,  I  took  a 
step  towards  her.  ' '  I  will  tell  you  what  I  have  seen  if 
you  will  come  down-stairs/'  I  whispered;  "  the  ladies 
will  be  disturbed  if  we  talk  here,"  and  smoothing  my 
brow  as  best  I  could,  I  put  out  my  hand  and  drew  her 
towards  me.  What  my  motive  was  I  hardly  knew  ; 
the  action  was  probably  instinctive  ;  but  when  I  saw 


394          The  Leavenworth  Case 

the  look  which  came  into  her  face  as  I  touched  her,  and 
the  alacrity  with  which  she  prepared  to  follow  me,  I 
took  courage,  remembering  the  one  or  two  previous 
tokens  I  had  had  of  this  girl's  unreasonable  suscepti 
bility  to  my  influence  ;  a  susceptibility  which  I  now 
felt  could  be  utilized  and  made  to  serve  my  purpose. 

Taking  her  down  to  the  parlor  floor,  I  drew  her  into 
the  depths  of  the  great  drawing-room,  and  there  told 
her  in  the  least  alarming  way  possible  what  had  hap 
pened  to  Mr.  Leavenworth.  She  was  of  course  intensely 
agitated,  but  she  did  not  scream  ;  —  the  novelty  of  her 
position  evidently  bewildering  her  —  and,  greatly  re 
lieved,  I  went  on  to  say  that  I  did  not  know  who  com 
mitted  the  deed,  but  that  folks  would  declare  it  was  I 
if  they  knew  I  had  been  seen  by  her  on  the  stairs  with 
the  library  key  in  my  hand.  "  But  I  won't  tell,"  she 
whispered,  trembling  violently  in  her  fright  and  eager 
ness.  "  I  will  keep  it  to  myself.  I  will  say  I  did  n't 
see  anybody."  But  I  soon  convinced  her  that  she 
could  never  keep  her  secret  if  the  police  once  began  to 
question  her,  and,  following  up  my  argument  with  a 
little  cajolery,  succeeded  after  a  long  while  in  winning 
her  consent  to  leave  the  house  till  the  storm  should  be 
blown  over.  But  that  given,  it  was  some  little  time 
before  I  could  make  her  comprehend  that  she  must 
depart  at  once  and  without  going  back  after  her  things. 
Not  till  I  brightened  up  her  wits  by  a  promise  to  marry 
her  some  day  if  she  only  obeyed  me  now,  did  she  begin 
to  look  the  thing  in  the  face  and  show  any  evidence  of 
the  real  mother  wit  she  evidently  possessed.  "  Mrs. 
Belden  would  take  me  in,"  said  she,  "  if  I  could  only 

get  to  R .     She  takes  everybody  in  who  asks  her  ; 

and  she  would  keep  me,  too,  if  I  told  her  Miss  Mary 
sent  me.  But  I  can't  get  there  to-night." 


The  Problem  Solved  395 

I  immediately  set  to  work  to  convince  her  that  she 
could.  The  midnight  train  did  not  leave  the  city  for 
a  half-hour  yet,  and  the  distance  to  the  depot  could  be 
easily  walked  by  her  in  fifteen  minutes.  But  she  had 
no  money  !  I  easily  supplied  that.  And  she  was 
afraid  she  could  n't  find  her  way  !  I  entered  into 
minutest  directions.  She  still  hesitated,  but  at  length 
consented  to  go,  and  with  some  further  understanding 
of  the  method  I  was  to  employ  in  communicating  with 
her,  we  went  down-stairs.  There  we  found  a  hat  and 
shawl  of  the  cook's  which  I  put  on  her,  and  in  another 
moment  we  were  in  the  carriage  yard.  "  Remember, 
you  are  to  say  nothing  of  what  has  occurred,  no  matter 
what  happens,"  I  whispered  in  parting  injunction 
as  she  turned  to  leave  me.  "  Remember,  you  are  to 
come  and  marry  me  some  day,"  she  murmured  in 
reply,  throwing  her  arms  about  my  neck.  The  move 
ment  was  sudden,  and  it  was  probably  at  this  time 
she  dropped  the  candle  she  had  unconsciously  held 
clenched  in  her  hand  till  now.  I  promised  her,  and  she 
glided  out  of  the  gate. 

Of  the  dreadful  agitation  that  followed  the  disap 
pearance  of  this  girl  I  can  give  no  better  idea  than  by 
saying  I  not  only  committed  the  additional  error  of 
locking  up  the  house  on  my  re-entrance,  but  omitted  to 
dispose  of  the  key  then  in  my  pocket  by  flinging  it 
into  the  street  or  dropping  it  in  the  hall  as  I  went  up. 
The  fact  is,  I  was  so  absorbed  by  the  thought  of  the 
danger  I  stood  in  from  this  girl,  I  forgot  everything 
else.  Hannah's  pale  face,  Hannah's  look  of  terror,  as 
she  turned  from  my  side  and  flitted  down  the  street, 
were  continually  before  me.  I  could  not  escape  them  ; 
the  form  of  the  dead  man  lying  below  was  less  vivid. 
It  was  as  though  I  were  tied  in  fancy  to  this  woman  of 


396          The  Leavenworth  Case 

the  white  face  fluttering  down  the  midnight  streets. 
That  she  would  fail  in  something  —  come  back  or  be 
brought  back  —  that  I  should  find  her  standing  white 
and  horror-stricken  on  the  front  steps  when  I  went 
down  in  the  morning,  was  like  a  nightmare  to  me.  I 
began  to  think  no  other  result  possible ;  that  she  never 
would  or  could  win  her  way  unchallenged  to  that  little 
cottage  in  a  distant  village  ;  that  I  had  but  sent  a 
trailing  flag  of  danger  out  into  the  world  with  this 
wretched  girl  ; — danger  that  would  come  back  to  me 
with  the  first  burst  of  morning  light ! 

But  even  those  thoughts  faded  after  a  while  before 
the  realization  of  the  peril  I  was  in  as  long  as  the  key 
and  papers  remained  in  my  possession.  How  to  get 
rid  of  them  !  I  dared  not  leave  my  room  again,  or 
open  my  window.  Some  one  might  see  me  and  re 
member  it.  Indeed  I  was  afraid  to  move  about  in  my 
room.  Mr.  Leavenworth  might  hear  me.  Yes,  my 
morbid  terror  had  reached  that  point — I  was  fearful  of 
one  whose  ears  I  myself  had  forever  closed,  imagined 
him  in  his  bed  beneath  and  wakeful  to  the  least  sound. 

But  the  necessity  of  doing  something  with  these  evi 
dences  of  guilt  finally  overcame  this  morbid  anxiety, 
and  drawing  the  two  letters  from  my  pocket — I  had  not 
yet  undressed  —  I  chose  out  the  most  dangerous  of  the 
two,  that  written  by  Mr.  Leavenworth  himself,  and, 
chewing  it  till  it  was  mere  pulp,  threw  it  into  a  corner; 
but  the  other  had  blood  on  it,  and  nothing,  not  even 
the  hope  of  safety,  could  induce  me  to  put  it  to  my  lips. 
I  was  forced  to  lie  with  it  clenched  in  my  hand,  and  the 
flitting  image  of  Hannah  before  my  eyes,  till  the  slow 
morning  broke.  I  have  heard  it  said  that  a  year  in 
heaven  seems  like  a  day  ;  I  can  easily  believe  it,  I 
know  that  an  hour  in  hell  seems  an  eternity  I 


The  Problem  Solved  397 

But  with  daylight  came  hope.  Whether  it  was  that 
the  sunshine  glancing  on  the  wall  made  me  think  of 
Mary  and  all  I  was  ready  to  do  for  her  sake,  or  whether 
it  was  the  mere  return  of  my  natural  stoicism  in  the 
presence  of  actual  necessity,  I  cannot  say.  I  only 
know  that  I  arose  calm  and  master  of  myself.  The 
problem  of  the  letter  and  key  had  solved  itself  also.s 
Hide  them  ?  I  would  not  try  to  !  Instead  of  that  I  \ 
would  put  them  in  plain  sight,  trusting  to  that  very 
fact  for  their  being  overlooked.  Making  the  letter  up 
into  lighters,  I  carried  them  into  the  spare  room  and 
placed  them  in  a  vase.  Then,  taking  the  key  in  my 
hand,  went  down-stairs,  intending  to  insert  it  in  the 
lock  of  the  library  door  as  I  went  by.  But  Miss  Elea- 
nore  descending  almost  immediately  behind  me  made 
this  impossible.  I  succeeded,  however,  in  thrusting  it, 
without  her  knowledge,  among  the  filagree  work  of  the 
gas-fixture  in  the  second  hall,  and  thus  relieved,  went 
down  into  the  breakfast  room  as  self-possessed  a  man 
as  ever  crossed  its  threshold.  Mary  was  there,  looking 
exceedingly  pale  and  disheartened,  and  as  I  met  her 
eye,  which  for  a  wonder  turned  upon  me  as  I  entered, 
I  could  almost  have  laughed,  thinking  of  the  deliverance 
that  had  come  to  her,  and  of  the  time  when  I  should 
proclaim  myself  to  be  the  man  who  had  accomplished  it. 

Of  the  alarm  that  speedily  followed,  and  my  action 
at  that  time  and  afterwards,  I  need  not  speak  in  detail. 
I  behaved  just  as  I  would  have  done  if  I  had  had  no 
hand  in  the  murder.  I  even  forbore  to  touch  the  key 
or  go  to  the  spare  room,  or  make  any  movement  which 
I  was  not  willing  all  the  world  should  see.  For  as 
things  stood,  there  was  not  a  shadow  of  evidence  against 
me  in  the  house  ;  neither  was  I,  a  hard-working,  un 
complaining  secretary,  whose  passion  for  one  of  his 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


employer's  nieces  was  not  even  mistrusted  by  the  lady 
herself,  a  person  to  be  suspected  of  the  crime  which 
threw  him  out  of  a  fair  situation.  So  I  performed  all 
the  duties  of  my  position,  summoning  the  police,  and 
going  for  Mr.  Veeley,  just  as  I  would  have  done  if 
those  hours  between  me  leaving  Mr.  Leavenworth  for 
the  first  time  and  going  down  to  breakfast  in  the 
morning  had  been  blotted  from  my  consciousness. 

And  this  was  the  principle  upon  which  I  based  my 
action  at  the  inquest.  Leaving  that  half-hour  and  its 
occurrences  out  of  the  question,  I  resolved  to  answer  such 
questions  as  might  be  put  me  as  truthfully  as  I  could  ;  the 
great  fault  with  men  situated  as  I  was  usually  being 
that  they  lied  too  much,  thus  committing  themselves  on 
unessential  matters.  But  alas,  in  thus  planning  for  my 
own  safety,  I  forgot  one  thing,  and  that  was  the  danger 
ous  position  in  which  I  should  thus  place  Mary  Leaven 
worth  as  the  one  benefited  by  the  crime.  Not  till  the 
inference  was  drawn  by  a  juror,  from  the  amount  of  wine 
found  in  Mr.  Leavenworth'  s  glass  in  the  morning,  that 
he  had  come  to  his  death  shortly  after  my  leaving  him, 
did  I  realize  what  an  opening  I  had  made  for  suspicion 
in  her  direction  by  admitting  that  I  had  heard  a  rustle 
on  the  stair  a  few  minutes  after  going  up.  That  all 
present  believed  it  to  have  been  made  by  Eleanore,  did 
not  reassure  me.  She  was  so  completely  disconnected 
with  the  crime  I  could  not  imagine  suspicion  holding  to 
her  for  an  instant.  But  Ma^  —  If  a  curtain  had  been 
let  down  before  me,  pictured  with  the  future  as  it  has 
since  developed,  I  could  not  have  seen  more  plainly 
what  her  position  would  be,  if  attention  were  once 
directed  towards  her.  So,  in  the  vain  endeavor  to  cover 
up  my  blunder,  I  began  to  lie.  Forced  to  admit  that  a 
shadow  of  disagreement  had  been  lately  visible  between 


The  Problem  Solved  399 

Mr.  Leavenworth  and  one  of  his  nieces,  I  threw  the 
burden  of  it  upon  Bleanore,  as  the  one  best  able  to  bear 
it.  The  consequences  were  more  serious  than  I  antici 
pated.  Direction  had  been  given  to  suspicion  which 
every  additional  evidence  that  now  came  up  seemed  by 
some  strange  fatality  to  strengthen.  Not  only  was  it 
proved  that  Mr.  L,eaven worth's  own  pistol  had  been 
used  in  the  assassination,  and  that  too  by  a  person  then 
in  the  house,  but  I  myself  was  brought  to  acknowledge 
that  Eleanore  had  learned  from  me,  only  a  little  while 
before,  how  to  load,  aim,  and  fire  this  very  pistol  —  a 
coincidence  mischievous  enough  to  have  been  of  the 
devil's  own  making. 

Seeing  all  this,  my  fear  of  what  the  ladies  would  ad 
mit  when  questioned  became  very  great.  L/et  them  in 
their  innocence  acknowledge  that,  upon  my  ascent, 
Mary  had  gone  to  her  uncle's  room  for  the  purpose  of 
persuading  him  not  to  carry  into  effect  the  action  he 
contemplated,  and  what  consequences  might  not  ensue ! 
I  was  in  a  torment  of  apprehension.  But  events  of 
which  I  had  at  that  time  no  knowledge  had  occurred  to 
influence  them.  Eleanore,  with  some  show  of  reason, 
as  it  seems,  not  only  suspected  her  cousin  of  the  crime, 
but  had  informed  her  of  the  fact,  and  Mary,  overcome 
with  terror  at  finding  there  was  more  or  less  circumstan 
tial  evidence  supporting  the  suspicion,  decided  to  deny 
whatever  told  against  herself,  trusting  to  Eleanore's gen 
erosity  not  to  be  contradicted.  Nor  was  her  confidence 
misplaced.  Though,  by  the  course  she  took,  Eleanore 
was  forced  to  deepen  the  prejudice  already  rife  against 
herself,  she  not  only  forbore  to  contradict  her  cousin, 
but  when  a  true  answer  would  have  injured  her,  actually 
refused  to  return  any,  a  lie  being  something  she  could 
not  utter,  even  to  save  one  especially  endeared  to  her. 


400          The  Leavenworth  Case 

This  conduct  of  hers  had  one  effect  upon  me.  It 
aroused  my  admiration  and  made  me  feel  that  here  was 
a  woman  worth  helping  if  assistance  could  be  given 
without  danger  to  myself.  Yet  I  doubt  if  my  sympathy 
would  have  led  me  into  doing  anything,  if  I  had  not 
perceived,  by  the  stress  laid  upon  certain  well-known 
matters,  that  actual  danger  hovered  about  us  all  while 
the  letter  and  key  remained  in  the  house.  Kven  before 
the  handkerchief  was  produced,  I  had  made  up  my  mind 
to  attempt  their  destruction;  but  when  that  was  brought 
up  and  shown,  I  became  so  alarmed  I  immediately 
rose  and,  making  my  way  under  some  pretence  or  other 
to  the  floors  above,  snatched  the  key  from  the  gas- 
fixture,  the  lighters  from  the  vase,  and  hastening  with 
them  down  the  hall  to  Mary  Leavenworth's  room,  went 
in  under  the  expectation  of  finding  a  fire  there  in  which 
to  destroy  them.  But,  to  my  heavy  disappointment, 
there  were  only  a  few  smoldering  ashes  in  the  grate, 
and,  thwarted  in  my  design,  I  stood  hesitating  what  to 
do,  when  I  heard  some  one  coming  up-stairs.  Alive  to 
the  consequences  of  being  found  in  that  room  at  that 
time,  I  cast  the  lighters  into  the  grate  and  started  for 
the  door.  But  in  the  quick  move  I  made,  the  key  flew 
from  my  hand  and  slid  under  a  chair.  Aghast  at  the 
mischance,  I  paused,  but  the  sound  of  approaching 
steps  increasing,  I  lost  all  control  over  myself  and  fled 
from  the  room.  And  indeed  I  had  no  time  to  lose.  I 
had  barely  reached  my  own  door  when  Kleanore 
Leavenworth,  followed  by  two  servants,  appeared  at 
the  top  of  the  staircase  and  proceeded  towards  the  room 
I  had  just  left.  The  sight  reassured  me  ;  she  would 
see  the  key,  and  take  some  means  of  disposing  of  it ; 
and  indeed  I  always  supposed  her  to  have  done  so,  for 
no  further  word  of  key  or  letter  ever  came  to  my  ears. 


The  Problem  Solved  401 

This  may  explain  why  the  questionable  position  in 
which  Eleanore  soon  found  herself  awakened  in  me  no 
greater  anxiety.  I  thought  the  suspicions  of  the  police 
rested  upon  nothing  more  tangible  than  the  peculiarity 
of  her  manner  at  the  inquest  and  the  discovery  of  her 
handkerchief  on  the  scene  of  the  tragedy.  I  did  not 
know  they  possessed  what  might  be  called  absolute 
proof  of  her  connection  with  the  crime.  But  if  I  had, 
I  doubt  if  my  course  would  have  been  any  different. 
Mary's  peril  was  the  one  thing  capable  of  influencing 
me,  and  she  did  not  appear  to  be  in  peril.  On  the  con 
trary,  every  one,  by  common  consent,  seemed  to  ignore 
all  appearance  of  guilt  on  her  part.  If  Mr.  Gryce, 
whom  I  soon  learned  to  fear,  had  given  one  sign  of 
suspicion,  or  Mr.  Raymond,  whom  I  speedily  recog 
nized  as  my  most  persistent  though  unconscious  foe 
had  betrayed  the  least  distrust  of  her,  I  should  have 
taken  warning.  But  they  did  not,  and,  lulled  into  a 
false  security  by  their  manner,  I  let  the  days  go  by 
without  suffering  any  fears  on  her  account.  But  not 
without  many  anxieties  for  myself.  Hannah's  existence 
precluded  all  sense  of  personal  security.  Knowing  the 
determination  of  the  police  to  find  her,  I  trod  the  verge 
of  an  awful  suspense  continually. 

Meantime  the  wretched  certainty  was  forcing  itself 
upon  me  that  I  had  lost,  instead  of  gained,  a  hold  on 
Mary  Leavenworth.  Not  only  did  she  evince  the  ut 
most  horror  of  the  deed  which  had  made  her  mistress 
of  her  uncle's  wealth,  but,  owing,  as  I  believed,  to  the 
influence  of  Mr.  Raymond,  soon  gave  evidence  that  she 
was  losing,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  characteristics  of 
mind  and  heart  which  had  made  me  hopeful  of  winning 
her  by  this  deed  of  blood.  This  revelation  drove  me 
almost  insane.  Under  the  terrible  restraint  forced  upon 


402  The  Leavenworth  Case 

me,  I  walked  my  weary  round  in  a  state  of  mind  border 
ing  on  frenzy.  Many  and  many  a  time  have  I  stopped 
in  my  work,  wiped  my  pen  and  laid  it  down  with  the 
idea  that  I  could  not  repress  myself  another  moment, 
but  I  have  always  taken  it  up  again  and  gone  on  with 
my  task.  Mr.  Raymond  has  sometimes  shown  his  won 
der  at  my  sitting  in  my  dead  employer's  chair.  Great 
heaven  !  it  was  my  only  safeguard.  By  keeping  the 
murder  constantly  before  my  mind,  I  was  enabled  to 
restrain  myself  from  any  inconsiderate  action. 

At  last  there  came  a  time  when  my  agony  could  be 
no  longer  suppressed.  Going  down  the  stairs  one  even 
ing  with  Mr.  Raymond,  I  saw  a  strange  gentleman 
standing  in  the  reception  room,  looking  at  Mary 
Leavenworth  in  a  way  that  would  have  made  my  blood 
boil,  even  if  I  had  not  heard  him  whisper  these  words  : 
"  But  you  are  my  wife,  and  know  it,  whatever  you  may 
say  or  do  ! '  * 

It  was  the  lightning-stroke  of  my  life.  After  what  I 
had  done  to  make  her  mine,  to  hear  another  claim  her 
as  already  his  own,  was  stunning,  maddening  !  It 
forced  a  demonstration  from  me.  I  had  either  to  yell 
in  my  fury  or  deal  the  man  beneath  some  tremendous 
blow  in  my  hatred.  I  did  not  dare  to  shriek,  so  I 
struck  the  blow.  Demanding  his  name  from  Mr.  Ray 
mond,  and  hearing  that  it  was,  as  I  expected,  Clavering, 
I  flung  caution,  reason,  common  sense,  all  to  the  winds, 
and  in  a  moment  of  fury  denounced  him  as  the  murderer 
of  Mr.  Leavenworth. 

The  next  instant  I  would  have  given  worlds  to  recall 
my  words.  What  had  I  done  but  drawn  attention  to 
myself  in  thus  accusing  a  man  against  whom  nothing 
could  of  course  be  proved  !  But  recall  now  was  impos 
sible.  So,  after  a  night  of  thought,  I  did  the  next  best 


The  Problem  Solved  403 

thing  :  gave  a  superstitious  reason  for  my  action,  and 
so  restored  myself  to  my  former  position  without  eradi 
cating  from  the  mind  of  Mr.  Raymond  that  vague  doubt 
of  the  man  which  my  own  safety  demanded.  But  I 
had  no  intention  of  going  any  further,  nor  should  I 
have  done  so  if  I  had  not  observed  that  for  some  reason 
Mr.  Raymond  was  willing  to  suspect  Mr.  Clavering. 
But  that  once  seen,  revenge  took  possession  of  me,  and 
I  asked  myself  if  the  burden  of  this  crime  could  be 
thrown  on  this  man.  Still  I  do  not  believe  that  any 
active  results  would  have  followed  this  self-questioning 
if  I  had  not  overheard  a  whispered  conversation  be 
tween  two  of  the  servants,  in  which  I  learned  that  Mr. 
Clavering  had  been  seen  to  enter  the  house  on  the 
night  of  the  murder,  but  was  not  seen  to  leave  it. 
That  determined  me.  With  such  a  fact  for  a  starting- 
point,  what  might  I  not  hope  to  accomplish  ?  Hannah 
alone  stood  in  my  way.  While  she  remained  alive  I 
saw  nothing  but  ruin  before  me.  I  made  up  my  mind 
to  destroy  her  and  satisfy  my  hatred  of  Mr.  Clavering 
at  one  blow.  But  how  ?  By  what  means  could  I  reach 
her  without  deserting  my  post,  or  make  away  with  her 
without  exciting  fresh  suspicion  ?  The  problem  seemed 
insolvable  ;  but  Trueman  Harwell  had  not  played  the 
part  of  a  machine  so  long  without  result.  Before  I  had 
studied  the  question  a  day,  light  broke  upon  it,  and  I 
saw  that  the  only  wa}r  to  accomplish  my  plans  was  to 
inveigle  her  into  destroying  herself. 

No  sooner  had  this  thought  matured  than  I  hastened 
to  act  upon  it.  Knowing  the  tremendous  risk  I  ran,  I 
took  every  precaution.  lyocking  myself  up  in  my  room, 
I  wrote  her  a  letter  in  printed  characters  —  she  having 
distinctly  told  me  she  could  not  read  writing — in  which 
I  played  upon  her  ignorance,  foolish  fondness,  and  Irish 


404  The  Leavenworth  Case 

superstition,  by  telling  her  I  dreamed  of  her  every  night 
and  wondered  if  she  did  of  me;  was  afraid  she  did  n't, 
so  enclosed  her  a  little  charm,  which,  if  she  would  use 
according  to  directions,  would  give  her  the  most  beauti 
ful  visions.  These  directions  were  for  her  first  to  de 
stroy  my  letter  by  burning  it,  next  to  take  in  her  hand 
the  packet  I  was  careful  to  enclose,  swallow  the  powder 
accompanying  it,  and  go  to  bed.  The  powder  was  a 
deadly  dose  of  poison  and  the  packet  was,  as  you  know, 
a  forged  confession  falsely  criminating  Henry  Clavering. 
Enclosing  all  these  in  an  envelope  in  the  corner  of  which 
I  had  marked  a  cross,  I  directed  it,  according  to  agree 
ment,  to  Mrs.  Belden,  and  sent  it. 

Then  followed  the  greatest  period  of  suspense  I  had 
yet  endured.  Though  I  had  purposely  refrained  from 
putting  my  name  to  the  letter,  I  felt  that  the  chances 
of  detection  were  very  great.  Let  her  depart  in  the 
least  particular  from  the  course  I  had  marked  out  for 
her,  and  fatal  results  must  ensue.  If  she  opened  the 
enclosed  packet,  mistrusted  the  powder,  took  Mrs. 
Belden  into  her  confidence,  or  even  failed  to  burn  my 
letter,  all  would  be  lost.  I  could  not  be  sure  of  her  or 
know  the  result  of  my  scheme  except  through  the  news 
papers.  Do  you  think  I  kept  watch  of  the  countenances 
about  me  ?  devoured  the  telegraphic  news,  or  started 
when  the  bell  rang  ?  And  when,  a  few  days  since,  I 
read  that  short  paragraph  in  the  paper  which  assured 
me  that  my  efforts  had  at  least  produced  the  death  of 
the  woman  I  feared,  do  you  think  I  experienced  any 
sense  of  relief  ? 

But  of  that  why  speak  ?  In  six  hours  had  come  the 
summons  from  Mr.  Gryce,  and — let  these  prison  walls, 
this  confession  itself,  tell  the  rest.  I  am  no  longer 
capable  of  speech  or  action. 


XXXIX 

THE  OUTCOME  OF  A  GREAT  CRIME 

"  I^eave  her  to  Heaven 

And  to  those  thorns  that  in  her  bosom  lodge 
To  prick  and  sting  her." 

Hamlet. 

"  For  she  is  wise,  if  I  can  judge  of  her ; 
And  fair  she  is,  if  that  mine  eyes  be  true ; 
And  true  she  is,  as  she  has  proved  herself; 
And  therefore  like  herself,  wise,  fair,  and  true, 
Shall  she  be  placed  in  my  constant  soul. ' ' 

Merchant  of  Venice. 

,  ELEANORE  !  "  I  cried,  as  I  made  my 
way  into  her  presence,  * '  are  you  prepared  for 
very  good  news  ?  News  that  will  brighten  these  pale 
cheeks  and  give  the  light  back  to  these  eyes,  and  make 
life  hopeful  and  sweet  to  you  once  more  ?  Tell  me, ' '  I 
urged,  stooping  over  her  where  she  sat,  for  she  looked 
ready  to  faint. 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  faltered;  "  I  fear  your  idea  of 
good  news  and  mine  may  differ.  No  news  can  be  good 
but " 

"  What  ?  "  I  asked,  taking  her  hands  in  mine  with  a 
smile  that  ought  to  have  reassured  her,  it  was  one  of 
such  profound  happiness.  "  Tell  me ;  do  not  be 
afraid." 

But  she  was.  Her  dreadful  burden  had  lain 
upon  her  so  long  it  had  become  a  part  of  her  being. 
How  could  she  realize  it  was  founded  on  a  mistake; 

405 


406  The  Leavenworth  Case 

that  she  had  no  cause  to  fear  the  past,  present,  or 
future  ? 

But  when  the  truth  was  made  known  to  her  ;  when, 
with  all  the  fervor  and  gentle  tact  of  which  I  was 
capable,  I  showed  her  that  her  suspicions  had  been 
groundless,  and  that  Trueman  Harwell,  and  not  Mary, 
was  accountable  for  the  evidences  of  crime  which  had 
led  her  into  attributing  to  her  cousin  the  guilt  of  her 
uncle's  death,  her  first  words  were  a  prayer  to  be  taken 
to  the  one  she  had  so  wronged.  "  Take  me  to  her  ! 
Oh,  take  me  to  her  !  I  cannot  breathe  or  think  till  I 
have  begged  pardon  of  her  on  my  knees.  Oh,  my  un 
just  accusation  !  My  unjust  accusation  !  " 

Seeing  the  state  she  was  in,  I  deemed  it  wise  to 
humor  her.  So,  procuring  a  carriage,  I  drove  with  her 
to  her  cousin's  home. 

44  Mary  will  spurn  me;  she  will  not  even  look  at  me; 
and  she  will  be  right  !  "  she  cried,  as  we  rolled  away  up 
the  avenue.  "  An  outrage  like  this  can  never  be  for 
given.  But  God  knows  I  thought  myself  justified  in 
my  suspicions.  If  you  knew ' ' 

"  I  do  know,"  I  interposed.  "  Mary  acknowledges 
that  the  circumstantial  evidence  against  her  was  so 
overwhelming,  she  was  almost  staggered  herself,  asking 
if  she  could  be  guiltless  with  such  proofs  against  her. 
But " 

44  Wait,  oh,  wait;  did  Mary  say  that  ?  " 

'4  Yes." 

"To-day?" 

"Yes." 

44  Mary  must  be  changed." 

I  did  not  answer  ;  I  wanted  her  to  see  for  herself  the 
extent  of  that  change.  But  when,  in  a  few  minutes 
later,  the  carriage  stopped  and  I  hurried  with  her  into 


The  Problem  Solved  4°7 

the  house  which  had  been  the  scene  of  so  much  misery, 
I  was  hardly  prepared  for  the  difference  in  her  own 
countenance  which  the  hall  light  revealed.  Her  eyes 
were  bright,  her  cheeks  were  brilliant,  her  brow  lifted 
and  free  from  shadow  ;  so  quickly  does  the  ice  of 
despair  melt  in  the  sunshine  of  hope. 

Thomas,  who  had  opened  the  door,  was  sombrely 
glad  to  see  his  mistress  again.  "  Miss  Leavenworth  is 
in  the  drawing-room,"  said  he. 

I  nodded,  then  seeing  that  Eleanore  could  scarcely 
move  for  agitation,  asked  her  whether  she  would  go  in 
at  once,  or  wait  till  she  was  more  composed. 

"  I  will  go  in  at  once;  I  cannot  wait."  And  slipping 
from  my  grasp,  she  crossed  the  hall  and  laid  her  hand 
upon  the  drawing-room  curtain,  when  it  was  suddenly 
lifted  from  within  and  Mary  stepped  out. 

"  Mary  !" 

'  'Eleanore  !  " 

The  ring  of  those  voices  told  everything.  I  did  not 
need  to  glance  their  way  to  know  that  Eleanore  had 
fallen  at  her  cousin's  feet,  and  that  her  cousin  had 
affrightedly  lifted  her.  I  did  not  need  to  hear  :  "  My 
sin  against  you  is  too  great;  you  cannot  forgive  me  !  " 
followed  by  the  low  :  "  My  shame  is  great  enough  to 
lead  me  to  forgive  anything  !  "  to  know  that  the  life 
long  shadow  between  these  two  had  dissolved  like  a 
cloud,  and  that,  for  the  future,  bright  days  of  mutual 
confidence  and  sympathy  were  in  store. 

Yet  when,  a  half-hour  or  so  later,  I  heard  the  door  of 
the  reception  room,  into  which  I  had  retired,  softly 
open,  and  looking  up,  saw  Mary  standing  on  the 
threshold,  with  the  light  of  true  humility  on  her  face,  I 
own  that  I  was  surprised  at  the  softening  which  had 
taken  place  in  her  haughty  beauty.  ' '  Blessed  is  the 


The  Leavenworth  Case 


shame  that  purifies,"  I  inwardly  murmured,  and  ad 
vancing,  held  out  my  hand  with  a  respect  and  sym 
pathy  I  never  thought  to  feel  for  her  again. 

The  action  seemed  to  touch  her.  Blushing  deeply, 
she  came  and  stood  by  my  side.  "  I  thank  you,"  said 
she.  "  I  have  much  to  be  grateful  for  ;  how  much  I 
never  realized  till  to-night  ;  but  I  cannot  speak  of  it 
now.  What  I  wish  is  for  you  to  come  in  and  help  me 
persuade  Eleanore  to  accept  this  fortune  from  my 
hands.  It  is  hers,  you  know  ;  was  willed  to  her,  or 
would  have  been  if  -  " 

"  Wait,"  said  I,  in  the  trepidation  which  this  appeal 
to  me  on  such  a  subject  somehow  awakened.  "  Have 
you  weighed  this  matter  well  ?  Is  it  your  determined 
purpose  to  transfer  your  fortune  into  your  cousin's 
hands  ?  " 

Her  look  was  enough  without  the  low,  "  Ah,  how 
can  you  ask  me  ?  "  that  followed  it. 

Mr.  Clavering  was  sitting  by  the  side  of  Eleanore 
when  we  entered  the  drawing-room.  He  immediately 
rose,  and  drawing  me  to  one  side,  earnestly  said  : 

"  Before  the  courtesies  of  the  hour  pass  between  us, 
Mr.  Raymond,  allow  me  to  tender  you  my  apology. 
You  have  in  your  possession  a  document  which  ought 
never  to  have  been  forced  upon  you.  Founded  upon  a 
mistake,  the  act  was  an  insult  which  I  bitterly  regret. 
If,  in  consideration  of  my  mental  misery  at  that  time, 
you  can  pardon  it,  I  shall  feel  forever  indebted  to  you; 
if  not  -  " 

"  Mr.  Clavering,  say  no  more.  The  occurrences  of 
that  day  belong  to  a  past  which  I,  for  one,  have  made 
up  my  mind  to  forget  as  soon  as  possible.  The  fu 
ture  promises  too  richly  for  us  to  dwell  on  bygone 


The  Problem  Solved  409 

And  with  a  look  of  mutual  understanding  and  friend 
ship  we  hastened  to  rejoin  the  ladies. 

Of  the  conversation  that  followed,  it  is  only  necessary 
to  state  the  result.  Eleanore,  remaining  firm  in  her  re 
fusal  to  accept  property  so  stained  by  guilt,  it  was  finally 
agreed  upon  that  it  should  be  devoted  to  the  erection 
and  sustainment  of  some  charitable  institution  of  mag 
nitude  sufficient  to  be  a  recognized  benefit  to  the  city 
and  its  unfortunate  poor.  This  settled,  our  thoughts 
returned  to  our  friends,  especially  to  Mr.  Veeley. 

"  He  ought  to  know,"  said  Mary.  "  He  has  grieved 
like  a  father  over  us."  And,  in  her  spirit  of  penitence, 
she  would  have  undertaken  the  unhappy  task  of  telling 
him  the  truth. 

But  Eleanore,  with  her  accustomed  generosity,  would 
not  hear  of  this.  "  No,  Mriry,"  said  she  ;  "  you  have 
suffered  enough.  Mr.  Raymond  and  I  will  go." 

And  leaving  them  there,  with  the  light  of  growing 
hope  and  confidence  on  their  faces,  we  went  out  again 
into  the  night,  and  so  into  a  dream  from  which  I  have 
never  waked,  though  the  shine  of  her  dear  eyes  have 
been  now  the  load-star  of  my  life  for  many  happy, 
happy  months. 

THE  END 


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